The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it will release the results of 379,000 candidates who sat for the rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) between Friday and Monday.
The affected candidates were primarily located in Lagos and the South-East region, where technical and human errors disrupted the initial UTME exercise, leading to mass failures and public outcry.
Why the UTME Was Rescheduled
Following widespread criticism over the poor performance of candidates in the 2025 UTME, JAMB launched an internal investigation. The board later admitted to systemic failures, including technical glitches and operator errors at several exam centres.
According to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, a total of 379,997 candidates were impacted:
- 206,610 candidates in 65 centres across Lagos
- 173,387 candidates in 92 centres across the South-East states
Oloyede, who emotionally accepted responsibility during a press briefing last week, labeled the situation as “sabotage” and apologized to the affected candidates. He also confirmed that text notifications for the rescheduled exams had been sent out beginning last Thursday.
When Will the Resit Results Be Released?
Speaking to The PUNCH, JAMB spokesperson Dr. Fabian Benjamin confirmed that the results of the rescheduled UTME would be released on Wednesday, May 22, 2025.
UTME 2025 Performance Breakdown
From the 1,955,069 results processed from the original UTME, the statistics are concerning:
- Only 0.63% scored 300 and above
- 4,756 scored 320+
- 7,658 scored between 300–319
- 17.11% scored between 200–249
- 50.29% (983,187 candidates) scored between 160–199
- 24.97% scored between 140–159
- Less than 0.3% scored below 120
This means over 75% of candidates scored below 200—fueling a nationwide debate about the exam’s credibility and fairness.
South-East Lawmakers Demand Cancellation of 2025 UTME
In response to the UTME crisis, the South-East Caucus in the House of Representatives has demanded the resignation of JAMB Registrar Prof. Oloyede and the immediate cancellation of the 2025 UTME.
In a statement signed by Hon. Iduma Igariwey (PDP, Ebonyi), the lawmakers described the exam process as a “catastrophic institutional failure” that violated the rights of students across the South-East.
Key criticisms included:
- Poor communication from JAMB
- Short notice for the rescheduled exam (less than 48 hours)
- Direct clash with ongoing WAEC exams, leading to low turnout
- Emotional and academic distress caused to students and families
“What happened is not just a glitch—it’s a denial of the constitutional right to equal and adequate educational opportunities,” the caucus stated, citing Section 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
What Lawmakers Are Demanding
- Cancellation of the 2025 UTME
- A fresh exam to be held after WAEC/NECO concludes
- Suspension of JAMB’s digital/logistics officials
- Full accountability beyond public apologies
While acknowledging Prof. Oloyede’s honesty, the lawmakers said his “fire-brigade” approach has not met the expectations of their constituents.
With JAMB set to release the resit results on Wednesday, the education sector—and thousands of candidates—await the outcome with high expectations. Whether the board will heed the call for a fresh UTME remains to be seen.
Stay tuned to My School Portal for updates on the UTME results, JAMB’s next steps, and policy responses from lawmakers and education stakeholders.
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