Similarly, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, commended JAMB for admitting to errors in the 2025 UTME.
Through its National Public Relations Officer, Samson Adeyemi, NANS released a Thursday statement characterizing the errors as a “damning indictment of the institution’s incompetence” and urging Prof. Oloyede’s resignation.
Persecondnews reports that Oloyede, during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, broke down in tears while apologizing for the errors in the UTME results.
Oloyede said that affected students would rewrite the exams, while taking full responsibility for the staff negligence that caused the errors.
But the NANS spokesman highlighted that JAMB’s negligence had inflicted immense psychological distress on affected students, citing a tragic case of a student who took her life in Lagos’ Ikorodu area due to stress over her UTME score.
He said: “The National Association of Nigerian Students is outraged by the unforgivable negligence of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, which has resulted in widespread despair among Nigerian students and, most tragically, the loss of a promising young life in Lagos.
“JAMB’s admission of errors in the released UTME results, particularly in Lagos and five South East states, is a damning indictment of the institution’s incompetence.
“This catastrophic failure has shattered the dreams of countless students, subjected them to untold psychological distress, and, in this case, driven a young scholar to the ultimate despair. This is not just an administrative lapse, it is an institutional disgrace.
“Prof. Ishaq Oloyede must resign without delay. The leadership that presided over this disaster cannot continue to administer an examination body that holds the future of Nigerian students in its hands.
“JAMB must bear responsibility for the irreversible damage it has caused and provide financial, psychological, and legal support to the grieving family.
“While JAMB has announced a rescheduled UTME for 379,997 students, NANS demands absolute transparency and integrity in this process. We will not tolerate further incompetence.”
In his reaction, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, commended JAMB for admitting to errors in the 2025 UTME but warned that such glitches should not escalate into a national crisis.
In a post on his official X account Thursday, Obi praised JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede’s transparent admission and apology but noted the incident reveals Nigeria’s institutional fragility, carrying significant risks.
He said: “The emotional and psychological toll on students and parents has been significant, with some reportedly suffering trauma and even death.”
Obi stressed that the integrity of examination processes and reliability of public institutions are foundational to national progress.
He highlighted the need for comprehensive quality assurance frameworks, rigorous testing, and transparent communication to prevent future glitches.
According to Obi, there must be no room for further glitches in JAMB or any arm of government, as the cost of repeated failure is too high.
He urged critical institutions to prioritise reform and accountability to maintain public trust and ensure the country’s progress.
He said: “Going forward, JAMB and similar critical bodies must adopt comprehensive quality assurance frameworks. This includes rigorous testing and constant auditing of technical infrastructure.
“Moreover, transparent communication with candidates and stakeholders, coupled with the prompt resolution of arising issues, is essential to restoring public confidence.
“There must be no room for further glitches – not in JAMB, not in any arm of government. The cost of repeated failure is simply too high.”
Persecondnews reports that out of 1.9 million candidates who sat for the UTME, over 1.5 million scored below 200 out of 400.
The examination agency reported that out of 1,955,069 processed results, only 4,756 candidates (0.24%) scored 320 or above, and 7,658 candidates (0.39%) scored between 300-319, with a total of 12,414 candidates (0.63%) achieving scores of 300 or above.
Also, 73,441 candidates (3.76 per cent) scored between 250 and 299 while 334,560 candidates (17.11 per cent) scored between 200 and 249.
A total of 983,187 candidates (50.29 per cent) scored between 160 and 199, which is widely regarded as the minimum threshold for admissions in many institutions.
In the same vein, 488,197 candidates (24.97 per cent) scored between 140 and 159, 57,419 candidates (2.94 per cent) scored between 120 and 139, 3,820 candidates (0.20 per cent) scored between 100 and 119, and 2,031 candidates (0.10 per cent) scored below 100.
Over 75 per cent of all candidates (1.5 million) scored below 200, average score seeing as the examination is graded over 400.
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