Kalu Urges JAMB to Commission Independent Audit of its Examination Infrastructure

–        As Muslim group, DARMAT applauds JAMB registrar’s credibility, accountability

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin  

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ben Kalu has called on the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to commission an independent, transparent audit of its entire examination infrastructure.

This audit, Kalu said, should involve external professionals, system engineers, and academic measurement experts to scrutinize every aspect of the Computer Based Test (CBT) engine, question delivery, answer validation, and result collation processes.

In a related development, a Muslim group, Daaru-r- Rahmat Islamic Society (DARMAT) has commended the credibility and accountability of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Prof.  Ishaq Oloyede over the inadequate and glitches that marred the 2025 UTME results. 

The group appealed to Nigerians to see the errors as a human error and the body is working round the clock to address the issue.

Meanwhile, the deputy speaker noted the examination body must also implement stronger deployment validation protocols and real-time monitoring mechanisms to prevent recurrence. 

Kalu made the call on Sunday in Abuja while addressing a press conference on the 2025 JAMB Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Technical Crisis.

He stressed the events surrounding the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) have shaken public confidence in one of the nation’s most critical gateways to opportunity. 

He emphasised the mass outcry that followed the release of this year’s results, and the subsequent technical review, demands not only transparency but decisive action to restore faith in our educational system.

While commending the swift apology of the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and his team, he noted it did not erase the trauma, disruption, and uncertainty experienced by the young people and their families. 

He recalled that Nigeria unfortunately lost a UTME candidate to suicide, consequentially triggered by the ensuing results of this technical glitch. 

The Deputy Speaker stressed the technical glitch experienced by JAMB was not a failure of the students, nor a deliberate act of sabotage, but a preventable human error within our system.

According to him, “We must not underestimate the toll this has taken. Parents and candidates have voiced legitimate concerns about the hurried scheduling of re-sit examinations, the overlap with ongoing WAEC assessments, the psychological strain, and the logistical burdens of traveling to distant centres on short notice.” 

Kalu stated that reports from the re-sit examinations held on Friday included complaints of difficult questions, time management issues, more technical glitches, poor centre coordination, and a lack of adequate support for those still affected.

He added: “JAMB must immediately review all available technical and independent reports including those from third-party educational technology companies that have gathered candidate-level data to fully understand the scope and implications of the crisis. 

“Only by triangulating internal findings with external audits can we ensure that no affected candidate is left behind.

“Now that the rescheduled examinations have concluded, I urge JAMB to commission an independent, transparent audit of its entire examination infrastructure. 

“This audit should involve external professionals, system engineers, and academic measurement experts to scrutinise every aspect of the CBT engine, question delivery, answer validation, and result collation processes.

“It is imperative that candidates from the South-East and Lagos who have already borne the brunt of these failures are not further disadvantaged.

“JAMB must provide a clear, accessible mechanism for remark and appeal, especially for those dissatisfied with the hurried resit or who experienced technical difficulties during the second sitting.

“To the affected candidates: your frustration is valid, and your voices have been heard. The integrity of our national examinations must never be compromised by technical lapses or human error.”

On his part while lauding the JAMB registrar’s credibility and accountability, the National Ameer of the DARMAT, Sheikh Misibaudeen Olawale stated in a statement issued and made available to newsmen: “The leadership of Prof. Oloyede is a great lesson for the nation as he takes responsibility for the hitches with full explanation.

“Apart from this, Oloyede also appreciated constructive comments from various stakeholders so as to take proactive steps to recover from the injuries”.

He said that, “the acceptance of the errors by Prof. Oloyede remained uncommon among the top government functionaries in the country.

“The JAMB Registrar should be commended for the credibility and accountability over the inadequate and glitches recorded during the recent release of the JAMB results in the country”.

Sheikh Olawale also said that, Prof.  Oloyede has demonstrated rare courage by admitting the error.

The cleric opined, “As a Muslim group in the country, we are not happy with the glitch and the associated issues, but your sincerity of purpose, strength of character and proven integrity for not trading the blame even with the obvious opportunities and the traceable link to the error”.

Olawale therefore appealed to Nigerians to see this as human error and put in all necessary mechanisms to assist the body (JAMB) in their proactive steps to recover from injuries noting that, “For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Q73:20)”.