By Ihechi Enyinnaya
The ACUF Initiative for Policy and Governance (ACUFIPOLGOV) has called for sweeping reforms and urgent support mechanisms following systemic errors that compromised the integrity of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for nearly 380,000 candidates.
In a public statement released on Thursday, the organization acknowledged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) confirmation of a critical system failure that affected 157 CBT centres, mostly in Lagos and the South-East. The glitch, traced to a missing system update, distorted candidate scores and triggered nationwide concern over fairness and credibility.
While ACUFIPOLGOV commended JAMB’s swift response—including its apology and offer of a free retake for all affected candidates—the group warned that the issue had deeper consequences.
“This is more than a technical glitch,” said Prof. Chiwuike Uba, Executive Director of ACUFIPOLGOV. “Affected students are now burdened with psychological stress and academic disruption, while their peers continue unimpeded. This deepens existing regional and educational inequalities.”
The organization outlined a set of immediate and long-term recommendations aimed at ensuring fairness and restoring public trust:
Candidate Support and Fairness
Preparation and Mental Health Support: Free revision materials and access to mental health services through schools or CBT centres for affected candidates.
Graduated Cut-Off Marks: Universities should apply adjusted admission criteria reflecting the disadvantage faced by affected students.
Merit-Based Score Preservation: JAMB should allow candidates to retain the better of the two scores—original or retake—where technically feasible.
Systemic Strengthening and Oversight
Pre-Exam Server Certification: A national protocol to certify server readiness and scoring logic integrity before any CBT session.
Real-Time Monitoring Systems: A centralized dashboard to track server health and software compliance in real-time.
Stricter Vendor Regulations: Annual audits and compliance checks for CBT centre operators and software providers.
Policy and Accountability Measures
UTME Redress Policy: A formal crisis response framework detailing rights, procedures, and institutional responsibilities during disruptions.
Independent Exam Ombudsman: Establishment of an impartial body to resolve disputes and protect candidate interests.
Temporary Quota Adjustments: Flexibility in admission quotas for disadvantaged zones in the 2025/2026 cycle.
Transparency and Public Engagement
Open Data for Oversight: Public access to anonymized centre-level performance data for independent validation.
Clear and Ongoing Communication: Regular updates and engagement with candidates, parents, and institutions to reinforce trust.
“This is a defining moment for Nigeria’s education system,” Prof. Uba stated. “The retake is necessary and commendable—but without bold reform, it’s not enough. We must institutionalize fairness, prevent future failures, and ensure that no candidate is ever again penalized by systemic oversight.”
ACUFIPOLGOV reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent, accountable, and equitable examination process, calling on all stakeholders to work collaboratively toward restoring the credibility of national assessments.