House Of Reps Education Committee Attributes 2025 UTME Result Crisis To Human Error.
The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has revealed that the widespread issues with the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results stemmed from human error, not a technical glitch as initially reported. This clarification, announced at a press conference on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, follows a tumultuous period for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which faced nationwide criticism after over 78% of candidates scored below 200 out of 400 points in the examination.
The committee’s chairman, Oboku Oforji, disclosed that preliminary findings pointed to avoidable human errors within JAMB’s operations, rather than a failure in its technological infrastructure. “These human errors were avoidable and stemmed from negligence on the part of JAMB,” Oforji stated, emphasising the need for accountability and systemic reform to prevent future occurrences. The investigation was prompted by a motion of urgent public importance moved by Osun lawmaker Adewale Adebayo, who highlighted the hardships faced by candidates and their families, including long-distance travel to examination centres, only to encounter unexpected failures due to administrative lapses.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has publicly acknowledged the errors, which affected 379,997 candidates across 157 examination centres, primarily in Lagos and the South-East. During an emotional press briefing on 14 May 2025, Oloyede attributed the discrepancies to a failure to deploy a critical system patch, which disrupted the proper uploading of candidates’ responses during the first three days of the examination. “It is our culture to admit errors because we are human; we are not perfect,” he said, announcing that affected candidates would retake the exam between 16 and 19 May 2025.
The committee commended Oloyede for his transparency and courage in accepting responsibility, with lawmakers like Sada Soli from Katsina urging recognition of his integrity and contributions to JAMB’s revenue growth. However, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas clarified that the investigative committee would determine whether commendations are warranted, stressing the need for a comprehensive probe into JAMB’s processes.
The crisis, which saw 1.5 million of the 1.9 million candidates score below 200 points, sparked outrage across Nigeria, with many candidates claiming their results did not reflect their performance. The House has called for an independent audit of JAMB’s examination infrastructure, including its computer-based test (CBT) systems, question delivery mechanisms, and result collation processes, to restore public confidence. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, addressing the issue on 18 May 2025, described the events as a “national embarrassment” that threatens trust in Nigeria’s education system. He urged JAMB to review third-party technical reports and implement stronger deployment validation protocols.
Public sentiment on X reflects frustration but also cautious optimism, with users praising JAMB’s swift response while demanding long-term solutions. One post noted, “JAMB finally admits error caused the mass failure of the 2025 UTME. The error should be quickly rectified and students properly graded.” The committee has also advocated for the establishment of CBT centres in all 774 local government areas to reduce logistical challenges for candidates, particularly those in rural areas.
As JAMB works to address the fallout, including launching a Candidate Counselling and Emergency Services Centre, the House of Representatives Education Committee has vowed to ensure that the investigation leads to meaningful reforms. The committee’s findings are expected to pave the way for enhanced safeguards, ensuring that Nigeria’s gateway to higher education remains credible and accessible for all.
