The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education Examination Bodies has called for an external investigation into the human errors that marred the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Oforji Oboku, made this known during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday. He disclosed that the Committee is working closely with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to implement reforms aimed at safeguarding the integrity of future examinations.
Oboku revealed that one of the key reforms under consideration is the deployment of independent monitors across the country’s six geopolitical zones to enhance transparency and accountability in subsequent UTME exercises.
“We extend our heartfelt apologies to all candidates, their families, and the Nigerian public. This disruption is unprecedented in JAMB’s history and must never happen again,” Oboku stated.
While commending JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, for owning up to the errors and issuing a public apology, Oboku stressed that the failures were avoidable and pointed to deeper institutional weaknesses.
“Though it is commendable that the Registrar accepted responsibility, the truth is this crisis could have been averted. Our students and education system deserve much better,” he said.
The Committee Chairman emphasized that urgent corrective measures are critical to prevent a recurrence.
“The time for accountability is now. The credibility of our educational assessment framework is under threat,” he warned.
Oboku assured the public that the Committee remains committed to enforcing greater oversight, driving structural reforms, and rebuilding public trust in Nigeria’s examination bodies.
Edited by Nzubechukwu Eze
