JAMB sanctions 11 CBT centres over fingerprint irregularities
By Uji A. Iliyasu, Abuja
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has recommended stiff penalties for 11 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres and the registrants implicated in fingerprint irregularities during the registration for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Following a stakeholder engagement session in Abuja on Tuesday—which included affected CBT centres and candidates—JAMB Registrar, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, announced the proposed sanctions aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the examination process. The recommendations, however, remain subject to approval by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.
Prof Oloyede, speaking through JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin, stated: “The leadership of JAMB, in collaboration with critical stakeholders, recommends that any registrant found to have registered over 50 candidates with infractions be barred from participating in all activities of the Board.”
“This means such individuals will be ineligible to register for the UTME, take part in the UTME as candidates, or be involved in any of the Board’s sister examinations—including WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB—for a period of three years.”
He added that the suspension could be reviewed after three years, provided the registrants show remorse and evidence of reform.
For registrants involved in fewer than 50 infractions, a formal warning will be issued. They will also be required to submit a written apology and sign a bond pledging non-repetition of such misconduct.
As for the implicated CBT centres, they will be placed under warning and required to sign a similar bond. Additionally, they must provide proof of having trained their registration personnel, with such training to be conducted by the appropriate department of a federal university located within their vicinity.
Prof Oloyede emphasised that ignorance would no longer be accepted as an excuse, and that any future infraction from these centres would not be tolerated. He reiterated the importance of proper training as a prerequisite for their continued partnership with JAMB.
Prominent attendees at the stakeholders’ session included Director of Admissions, JAMB, Zainab Hamza; former Director, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Hillary Madu; former Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni; and Editor of Leadership Newspaper, Raliat Yusuf.