Title:
JAMB’s 2025 UTME Resit Scandal: A National Crisis Demanding Urgent Action
Subtitle:
When a public institution admits failure but punishes selectively, trust is broken—and so is the nation’s unity.
Banner Caption (for blog header image):
“Education Without Justice Is a Threat to National Peace”
By Dr. Muhd Sani Abdullahi
Concerned Nigerian Citizen
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has set off alarm bells nationwide with its recent handling of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). In a shocking admission, the board acknowledged technical failures that compromised the exam’s integrity. Yet, instead of taking responsibility in an equitable and transparent manner, JAMB has directed only candidates from 65 centres in Lagos and 92 centres in the South-East (Owerri Zone) to resit the exam.
This is more than administrative negligence—it is a direct assault on fairness, unity, and the credibility of Nigeria’s educational system.
Where Is the Fairness?
If the failure was indeed due to technical glitches, we must ask:
- Why are only specific regions being singled out?
- Are different technologies or service providers used in different zones?
- Where is the independent investigation confirming that only these centres were affected?
Until these questions are answered with evidence—not press statements—this decision will remain suspicious, unjust, and unacceptable.
A Dangerous Precedent
In every examination, some candidates will naturally fall short. That’s not the issue here. The real crisis lies in the fact that JAMB admitted it failed, yet chose to "fix" the problem by selectively punishing regions—without transparency.
Such a move fosters regional mistrust, fuels dangerous narratives, and plants seeds of division among our youth. The trauma, suspicion, and frustration this has caused are real—and cannot be dismissed with vague reassurances.
Four Urgent Demands for Justice
-
Nationwide Cancellation and Resit of the 2025 UTME:
If JAMB failed, all candidates must be treated equally. A full nationwide resit is the only fair solution. -
Independent Investigation Into the Glitch:
Nigerians deserve to know exactly what went wrong. Let the truth come from a panel of independent ICT and education experts. -
Resignation or Removal of the JAMB Registrar:
Prof. Ishaq Oloyede must step aside. The system failed under his watch, and leadership must be held accountable. -
Stakeholder Participation in JAMB Reform:
The National Assembly, education professionals, student unions, and civil society must now take part in reshaping JAMB into a more credible and transparent institution.
This Is a National Emergency, Not Just an Education Issue
The integrity of public institutions is the backbone of national trust. If students begin to see JAMB as biased, incompetent, or politically manipulated, we risk creating a generation that sees the system as an enemy—not an opportunity.
This is a dangerous road—and we are already halfway down it.
I call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Hon. Minister of Education, the National Assembly, and all state governors to act now. JAMB must not be allowed to sabotage the future of Nigerian students—or the fragile unity we still hold as a nation.
Let justice be done. Let fairness prevail. Let JAMB be held accountable.
[Social Media Teaser for Sharing]:
"Why are only Lagos and the South-East repeating UTME when JAMB admitted a system-wide failure? This isn’t just unfair—it’s dangerous for Nigeria’s unity. Read my open call for justice and reform. #FixJAMB #UTME2025 #NigerianStudentsDeserveBetter"