The glitch disrupted the exam process for more than 379,000 candidates across Lagos and the South-East region.
The House of Representatives has formally apologised to Nigerians, particularly parents and candidates affected by a technical glitch during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The glitch disrupted the exam process for more than 379,000 candidates across Lagos and the South-East region.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies, Rep. Oboku Oforji, extended a heartfelt apology on behalf of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). He described the incident as an “avoidable human error” and expressed regret over the disruption it caused.
“The committee in the House of Representatives responsible for overseeing examination bodies, including JAMB, expresses its deep sympathy for the candidates affected by the errors experienced during the examination,” he said.
“We sincerely apologise on behalf of the examination body (JAMB) to all Nigerians.”
Oforji praised the courage and accountability of JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, for owning up to the glitch and issuing a public apology to stakeholders, including parents and students. He, however, described the incident as one rooted in negligence, calling it a wake-up call for urgent reforms, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
The House committee has urged an independent and thorough investigation into the cause of the malfunction, stressing the need for transparency and reform in the nation’s examination systems.
“I would like to state unequivocally that the members of the National Assembly share these concerns and extend their apologies to the Nigerian public,” Oforji said.
“We also call for an independent and thorough investigation into the matter.”
He further emphasised the importance of setting higher monitoring standards and enhancing technical expertise in examination processes across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
He noted that while JAMB had made considerable strides in registration and result processing, the unfortunate error has undermined public confidence.
“The government and the country’s educational system, which is a cornerstone of our future, cannot withstand another scandal,” he concluded.
The House of Representatives reassured the public of its commitment to ensuring educational excellence and institutional accountability across all examination bodies in Nigeria.
SaharaReporters had reported that the South-East Caucus in the House of Representatives called for Oloyede’s immediate resignation, describing the board’s handling of the 2025 UTME as a “catastrophic institutional failure”.
“Last week, particularly on May 14, 2025, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made a shocking public admission that due to a ‘technical glitch’ at some examination centres during the 2025 UTME, approximately 379,997 out of 1.9 million candidates would be required to resit the exam,” the lawmakers said in a statement signed by Iduma Igariwey (PDP, Ebonyi).
They added, “As a caucus, we are deeply concerned, as all five South-Eastern states we represent were directly affected by these so-called ‘score distortions.’”
The lawmakers also criticised the board for poor communication, short notice to candidates, and clashes with ongoing WAEC examinations, saying students experienced “unnecessary trauma”.
“JAMB’s knee-jerk, fire-brigade approach has been anything but adequate,” the statement read.
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