Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to initiate a fully independent and transparent audit of its entire examination system.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Kalu emphasized that this audit should be carried out by external professionals, including system engineers and specialists in academic assessment, to evaluate every component of the Computer-Based Testing (CBT) platform—ranging from question delivery and answer validation to result collation.

Kalu also pressed JAMB to immediately analyze all available technical and third-party reports, particularly those from independent educational technology providers who have gathered student-level data. He stated that a comprehensive understanding of the recent technical failures during the 2025 UTME can only emerge from cross-examining internal assessments with external audits.

He maintained that no affected student should be left behind, especially those in Lagos and the South-East who were most impacted. Kalu stressed the importance of a transparent and accessible appeal process for candidates who faced technical disruptions or were dissatisfied with the hastily arranged re-sit.

He further recommended collaboration with other examination bodies like WAEC to prevent scheduling clashes that could hinder the academic advancement of affected students.

Regarding transparency, Kalu urged JAMB to make anonymized candidate results publicly available for independent review. He also advocated for the board to accept Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, describing this as a vital step toward restoring public trust.

Meanwhile, the Association of Tutorial School Operators (ATSO) has demanded a thorough review of JAMB’s technological and operational systems to prevent similar failures in the future.

Speaking on the 2025 UTME issues, ATSO President, Oludotun Sodunke, criticized the recurring technical malfunctions, attributing them to structural weaknesses in JAMB’s ICT infrastructure.

While acknowledging the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, for taking responsibility, Sodunke underscored the urgent need for systemic reforms.

He remarked: “To develop long-lasting solutions, JAMB must involve all stakeholders in the education sector. Dismissing constructive feedback from experts and educators is no longer acceptable.”

To improve outcomes, ATSO recommended shifting the UTME to July or August, after students have completed their WAEC and NECO exams. This, they argued, would give candidates sufficient time to prepare.

Additionally, the association called for a full stress test of JAMB’s systems by independent technology professionals to detect and resolve vulnerabilities.

In a separate development, Pastor Eric Ajari, the Lagos Moderator of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, advised students to maintain faith and avoid despair, particularly suicidal thoughts. He emphasized that suicide is not a solution to examination-related challenges.

During a sermon at the church's Gbagada headquarters, Ajari encouraged students to prepare diligently and rely on God rather than giving in to anxiety and hopelessness.

Speaking on the topic of “Causes, Consequences, and Solutions to Anxiety,” Ajari referenced 1 Kings 19:4 and reminded students that God remains a refuge in times of distress. He also identified common causes of exam failure, including anxiety, guilt, fear, rejection, low self-esteem, broken trust, substance abuse, and depression.

To overcome these barriers, Ajari concluded that students must turn to the peace and assurance that only God can provide.