As the rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) kicks off today, outrage is mounting among Nigerian parents and education stakeholders over the timing and management of the resit exercise, affecting over 379,000 candidates. The resit was triggered by a technical glitch that marred the original 2025 UTME, leaving many students in limbo and sparking nationwide concerns about the credibility of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Furious parents have demanded that the rescheduled UTME be postponed to June 2025, citing the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the psychological trauma faced by affected students. Several parents who spoke to ireport247news.com lamented the short notice for the resit and its disruption of academic schedules.
Mr. Bukola Omoniyi, a parent in Oyo State, expressed frustration that his son, already back in school for WAEC, was suddenly instructed to travel to Lagos to retake the UTME. “This is not fair. No one is considering the logistics or the trauma. These children are not machines,” he said.
Mrs. Aisha Okikiola, another concerned parent, emphasized the difficulty students face preparing for both exams simultaneously. “My daughter is reading two different syllabi at once — WAEC and UTME — it’s exhausting and confusing,” she said, urging JAMB to consider a June resit.
On Wednesday, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, admitted that a failed software update caused a server failure that disrupted the exams in 157 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, mainly across Lagos and the South-East.
Over 206,000 candidates in Lagos and another 173,000 across Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo States were affected. Oloyede took full responsibility, describing the glitch as a rare setback in what had otherwise been a smooth UTME process.
“We deeply regret the distress this has caused,” Oloyede stated. “All affected students will be recontacted and scheduled for a resit between May 16 and 18.”
The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to investigate the UTME disruption after a motion raised by Hon. Adewale Adebayo. The lawmakers directed the Federal Government to establish CBT centres in all local governments to prevent recurrence.
While some lawmakers praised JAMB’s transparency and Prof. Oloyede’s courage in owning the mistake, others insisted the investigation must determine the culpability of service providers and ensure that appropriate sanctions are applied.
Echoing similar sentiments, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) lauded JAMB’s leadership but stressed that transparency must be matched by accountability. NOA Director General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, urged JAMB to provide “adequate compensation” to affected candidates, citing the stress and educational disruption caused.
Amid the resit uproar, JAMB is also facing legal heat over a hijab incident involving Miss Lawal Adenike, a candidate who was allegedly forced to remove her hijab at a CBT centre in Ibadan. The MSSN has condemned the act as a violation of constitutional rights and is supporting Lawal’s court case against JAMB and PEFTI CBT Centre.
“No student should be forced to choose between her faith and education,” said MSSN Lagos President, Kamoldeen Abiona. The group called on JAMB to issue clear guidelines that respect religious attire at exam centres nationwide.
The controversy comes amid mounting scrutiny over the general performance of UTME candidates. JAMB revealed that more than 78 per cent of the 1.9 million candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME scored below 200 out of 400. Although this trend is not new — with similar outcomes recorded in previous years — this year’s poor showing has reignited debates over examination standards and systemic challenges in Nigeria’s education sector.
The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) appealed for calm and cooperation, urging parents to support JAMB’s efforts to conduct the resit successfully. “What happened is unfortunate, but JAMB has shown readiness to correct the error. Let’s work together to help our children succeed,” said NAPTAN National President, Haruna Danjuma.
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As the resit proceeds, the demand for holistic reform of Nigeria’s examination system grows louder. Stakeholders are calling for improved technology infrastructure, decentralization of CBT centres, and policy reviews to prevent future disruptions. For many, this incident underscores the urgent need to prioritize student welfare and institutional accountability in Nigeria’s education sector.