The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has unveiled plans for a new mop-up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to accommodate students who missed the 2025 exam, including those absent for any reason. JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, announced this during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, addressing challenges faced during the 2025 UTME.
Oloyede revealed that approximately 6% of candidates, including 206,610 in Lagos and 173,387 in the South East, missed the initial exam due to technical and human errors. A resit exam for 380,000 affected candidates has already been conducted, costing JAMB ₦260.639 million, as reported in its latest bulletin. Oloyede described the initial disruptions as “sabotage,” taking full responsibility while reaffirming JAMB’s commitment to transparency and fairness.
The announcement follows sharp criticism from the South East Caucus of the House of Representatives, which demanded Oloyede’s resignation, citing “catastrophic institutional failure.” In a statement by Hon. Igariwey Enwo, the caucus slammed JAMB’s rushed rescheduling, noting that South East students, many writing WAEC exams, received less than 48 hours’ notice, leading to low turnout and distress due to scheduling conflicts.
The caucus stressed JAMB’s constitutional duty under Section 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution to ensure equal educational opportunities, arguing that the flawed 2025 UTME denied South East students this right. Despite the criticism, Oloyede’s new mop-up initiative aims to provide a second chance for all affected candidates, signaling JAMB’s effort to restore trust in the admission process.