ASUU-UNN Accuses JAMB of Deliberate Marginalization of South-East Candidates in 2025 UTME

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) chapter, has accused the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) of deliberately orchestrating the mass failure of candidates from the South-East geopolitical zone in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Speaking at a press briefing, ASUU-UNN Chairperson, Comrade Oyibo Eze, expressed deep concern over what he described as a “targeted sabotage” of educational advancement in the region.

According to him, students from the South-East, as well as from Lagos State both areas with a significant Igbo population—recorded unusually low scores, raising suspicions of deliberate manipulation.

Eze cited the example of the University Secondary School in Nsukka, known for its academic excellence, where no candidate reportedly scored above 200 in this year’s UTME. “This is not a matter of coincidence or academic decline. There appears to be a concerted effort to marginalize a section of this country by denying our students access to tertiary education,” he said.

The ASUU chairperson did not mince words in hinting at possible legal action. “We are prepared to challenge this injustice in court if JAMB fails to conduct a thorough review and rectify this clear anomaly,” Eze warned.

In a related development, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, admitted that significant errors occurred in the 2025 UTME process.

Speaking in Abuja, he acknowledged that the board had received multiple complaints and confirmed that the examination, which was expected to be a celebration of academic effort, had instead become a source of pain and frustration for many candidates and their families.

Prof. Oloyede did not provide specific details about the nature of the errors or how they disproportionately affected particular regions.

However, he assured the public that the board was working to address the issues and ensure fairness.

The allegations have sparked a broader national debate about equity, transparency, and regional inclusion in Nigeria’s educational system.

Civil society groups, parents, and education stakeholders are calling for an independent investigation into the matter to safeguard the future of affected students.

As the controversy deepens, the credibility of one of Nigeria’s most important education institutions hangs in the balance, with many urging JAMB to act swiftly to restore public trust.