The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is preparing to take action against 11 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres that were linked to fingerprint irregularities during the registration process for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The decision was made after a meeting held in Abuja between JAMB officials, affected CBT centre representatives, and some of the involved registrants.
The meeting came after concerns were raised about the actions of some registration officers who handled large volumes of candidates using questionable methods.
JAMB’s leadership revealed that those who registered over 50 candidates using irregular methods will be banned from all future JAMB-related activities for three years.
This includes a ban from registering for UTME or participating in any exams organized by WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB within that period.
They will also be reviewed after the suspension period to determine if they can be reinstated.
Registrants involved in fewer than 50 irregular cases will be warned, asked to submit a letter of apology, and made to sign a written agreement promising not to repeat such behavior.
As for the CBT centres, they will be required to sign bonds and show proof that their staff have been trained on proper ethical standards.
The training must be done through departments in nearby federal universities. Until then, they will not be allowed to handle JAMB processes again.
JAMB also stated that federal government-owned centres involved in the case would be reported to the appropriate authorities.
Despite claims of ignorance, the board said no excuse would be accepted going forward.
Some of the registrants admitted during the meeting that they engaged in fingerprint fraud out of desperation to meet high registration targets.
Others broke down in tears, asking for mercy.
A former police commissioner who attended the meeting noted that such actions could attract legal punishment but pleaded for JAMB to forgive the culprits this time.
One of the affected centres, Jicoras CBT Centre in Jigawa State, stated that it had already started investigating its staff and would share its findings with JAMB.
The centre also promised it would not allow such misconduct to happen again.
The CBT centres involved are located in Bauchi, Bayelsa, Gombe, Edo, Abuja, Jigawa, Lagos, Oyo, Plateau, and Rivers states.
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