The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced plans to impose strict sanctions on several Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres and individuals found guilty of fingerprint manipulation during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration exercise.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja after a stakeholders’ meeting involving the affected centres and registrants. He stated that the proposed disciplinary actions, which are aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the examination process, would require the approval of the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa.
According to Oloyede, any registrant found to have processed over 50 candidates with fingerprint infractions will be banned from participating in any JAMB-related activity for three years. This includes being disqualified from registering for the UTME, participating in future exercises, or sitting for other national examinations such as WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB. After the suspension period, their cases may be reviewed depending on their conduct and demonstration of remorse.
For those who committed fewer offences, JAMB will issue formal warnings and require them to submit written apologies and sign undertakings promising not to engage in future misconduct.
The affected CBT centres will also face penalties. All implicated centres are to be warned and made to sign bonds committing to ethical conduct. In addition, they must provide evidence of staff training on ethical standards, facilitated by nearby federal universities. JAMB emphasized that the centres will not be re-engaged until they provide certification confirming completion of the training.
Oloyede made it clear that the Board would no longer tolerate infractions, noting that ignorance would not be accepted as an excuse. For centres owned by the federal government, reports of the infractions would be submitted to the appropriate authorities for further action.
During the meeting, several registrants and CBT centre representatives admitted to their involvement in the malpractice, some breaking down in tears and pleading for leniency. They blamed their actions on lack of awareness or the pressure to meet registration quotas.
A stakeholder at the meeting, former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, described the infractions as criminal and worthy of prosecution but appealed for leniency, urging the Board to instead mandate the offenders to sign undertakings.
One CBT operator acknowledged launching an internal investigation into the misconduct and pledged to discipline those involved, while also promising to share the findings with JAMB. He described the incident as a learning moment, assuring the Board of stricter compliance in the future.
JAMB reiterated its commitment to upholding transparency, accountability, and credibility in all its operations, warning that any future infractions will attract even stiffer penalties.
