Thousands of 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates have announced plans to sue the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over alleged exam irregularities.
Legal Action Looms Over UTME 2025 Results
A coalition of students and parents claims technical errors and missing questions marred this year’s UTME. Many have accused JAMB of failing to ensure a fair testing process and are demanding transparency.
Education advocate and CEO of Educare, Alex Onyia, confirmed that legal proceedings will begin Monday at the Federal High Court. He revealed that 8,391 students have submitted formal complaints to support the lawsuit.
Mass Failure Sparks Outrage
JAMB recently disclosed that 79% of the 1.9 million candidates scored below 200. Only 12,414 candidates scored 300 and above—less than one percent.
The results triggered a nationwide outcry, with families and students taking to social media to demand a full review of the exam. Onyia argued that “JAMB’s system was inefficient and harmed students’ mental health.”
Students Demand Marking Transparency
The students want JAMB to release individual marking sheets, including breakdowns of correct answers and question performance. Onyia stated, “The destinies of these students are at stake.”
One candidate reported that some Use of English questions were missing during her exam at a centre in Maitama, Abuja. Another said she scored 287 last year but only 173 this year, citing incomplete questions.
Parents and Experts Call for Review
A concerned parent urged JAMB to remark the scripts, stating, “These are exceptional students. Incomplete questions and technical issues were common. This must not be ignored.”
Meanwhile, JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin maintained that the scores reflected students’ performance. Education Minister Tunji Alausa added that the low scores proved anti-malpractice efforts were working.
With legal action pending and public pressure mounting, JAMB faces scrutiny to ensure accountability and fairness. Stakeholders await the court’s response as the exam body’s integrity remains in the spotlight.
