House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education Examination Bodies has called for an independent probe into the human errors that disrupted this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Addressing reporters at National Assembly yesterday in Abuja, Committee Chair, Oforji Oboku, said they are working with Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on reforms to restore credibility of the exam process.
According to him, one of the measures under consideration is deployment of independent monitors in the six geopolitical zones to ensure transparency and accountability in future.
“We apologise to candidates, parents, and public. This disruption is unprecedented in the history of JAMB and must not happen again,” he said.
He praised the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, for his transparency and public apology, but maintained that the errors were avoidable.
“The registrar has shown courage by accepting responsibility, but we must be clear, this was a preventable lapse. Our students and the nation deserve better,” he said.
The lawmaker stressed need for reform, warning that the system cannot withstand another large-scale disruption.
Also, the pan-Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has urged the Federal Government to set up a commission of enquiry to determine the immediate and remote causes of the glitches in the conduct of the UTME.
In a statement yesterday, President General, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, noted that Ndigbo “are not satisfied with the peripheral reasons and tangential justifications given by JAMB, as this portends not only attempt to jeopardise the future of our children, but is a calculated attempt to vitiate backbone of the zone, which is anchored on education”.
He added: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo implores Federal Government to set up a commission to determine the immediate and remote causes of this menace.
“It is only by so doing can patriotic Nigerians, especially victims and their families, shall have sustainable relief over the avoidable anguish, pressure, anxiety and trauma inflicted on them…”
Also, Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL) and Southeast Civil Society Coalition have called for cancellation of this year’s UTME.
WACOL’s Executive Director, Prof. Joy Ezeilo (SAN), called for an independent investigation into operations of JAMB on the 2025 UTME.
Ezeilo spoke yesterday in Enugu during a peaceful protest against “JAMB inefficiency that led to the mass failure”.
Other organisations that joined the protest included the Southeast Human Rights Civil Society Situation Room, Southeast Women’s Network (SEWNET), and the Fifty-Fifty 50/50 Action Women Group.
Ezeilo said the demonstration was in response to ‘glaring irregularities and systemic failures’ in the conduct of the 2025 UTME.
But a former first National Deputy Chair of Association of Universities Alumni (ANUA), Dr. Stephen Fasakin, absolved Prof. Oloyede, of complicity in the glitches.
In a statement, Dr. Fasakin said: “JAMB has conducted same examination with good ending for years and Prof. Is-Oloyede has been acclaimed for his innovation and evolution of positive development JAMB has evolved through since he assumed office.
“While it is quite unfortunate that the previous board’s examination exercise didn’t go the way of others, Nigerians should be careful not to throw away the baby and the birth water since errors can still be corrected to produce an ending that can match or surpass the previous exercises.”