JAMB sets up special committee on exam malpractice, orders varsities to conclude 2025 admissions by October

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has inaugurated a special examination malpractice committee to tackle rising cases of irregularities recorded during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The board also directed all public universities to finalise their admission processes for the year by October 31, 2025.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at JAMB headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, the Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said the move was part of renewed efforts to safeguard the integrity of the country’s most subscribed tertiary entrance examination.

He described examination malpractice as one of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s education system, stressing the need for proactive measures.

According to him, the board is currently investigating 6,458 candidates for alleged involvement in high-tech exam malpractice. He explained that exam fraud had gone beyond traditional schemes, with cases now involving biometric and identity manipulations, as well as attempts to breach computer-based test (CBT) centres’ Local Area Networks.

Oloyede disclosed that while 141 cases of regular malpractice had been referred to JAMB’s disciplinary committee, the newly inaugurated panel would focus on extraordinary cases such as image blending, albinism falsification, and finger pairing. He said the committee’s responsibilities include investigating misconduct, reviewing evidence, recommending sanctions, and advising on preventive strategies.

He also listed their terms of reference, which include identifying technologies used for malpractice, determining the culpability of the 6,458 affected candidates, and proposing frameworks for preventing future occurrences. The committee has been given three weeks to submit its report.

Chairman of the committee, Jake Epelle, who is also the Founder of the Albino Foundation, assured that the team would discharge its duties with fairness and diligence. He noted that malpractice not only undermines the credibility of examinations but also erodes societal values and confidence in the education system.

Meanwhile, JAMB has directed Nigerian public universities to conclude their 2025 admission processes by October 31. According to the admission timeline, private universities are to finalise theirs by November 30, while all other institutions, public or private, must wrap up admissions by December 31.

The directive, contained in JAMB’s weekly bulletin, was in line with decisions taken at the 2025 Policy Meeting chaired by the Minister of Education. JAMB said the move was to stabilise the academic calendar and ensure fair access to admission opportunities across all tertiary institutions.

It further instructed institutions conducting post-UTME screenings to complete the exercises promptly in order to meet the 2025 admission deadlines.