The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mop-up examination held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, revealing a staggering absenteeism rate that has raised serious concerns about candidate commitment and examination logistics.
The 2025 JAMB MOP UP examination has recorded one of the highest absenteeism rates in recent history, with nearly 9 out of every 10 scheduled candidates failing to appear for the examination. This massive no-show rate represents a significant waste of resources and raises questions about the examination scheduling and candidate preparedness.
Critical Statistics
- Total Scheduled Candidates: 96,838.
- Candidates Who Actually Sat: 11,161
- Absenteeism Rate: 88.5% (85,677 candidates absent).
- Examination Date: June 28, 2025.
- Results Released: All 11,161 candidates who sat for the exam.
This indicates that 85,677 candidates registered but failed to appear for the examination. That is, only 11.5% of scheduled candidates actually took the exam. This represents a potential loss of examination fees and resources allocated for the absent candidate.
According to Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s spokesperson, the board has released results for all candidates who were present for the examination. However, he highlighted ongoing issues with result access procedures.
Dr. Benjamin stated “Candidates who are not able to access their result have been found not to have fully complied with the instruction to send ‘UTMERESULT’ (as one word text) to 55019/66019 from the same phone number (SIM) with which they registered for the UTME.”
This statement suggests that even among the 11,161 candidates who sat for the exam, some are still experiencing difficulties accessing their results due to non-compliance with the SMS verification process.
Major Anti-Fraud Operations Continue
Beyond the examination results, JAMB has provided updates on its ongoing fight against examination malpractices, revealing the scale of fraudulent activities that have plagued the system.
Fake Admission Letter Syndicate Bust: Dr. Benjamin revealed significant progress in the fake admission letter investigation that began in April 2024. “Following the confession from the syndicate, a total of 17,417 candidates were flagged as beneficiaries,” he disclosed.
Providing detailed breakdown of the investigation’s outcomes, JAMB’s spokesperson said “Between 2024 and May 2025, when the Board submitted an update to the Federal Ministry of Education, a total of 6,903 candidates who were asked to rectify their minor discrepancies were cleared, leaving behind 10,514 who had been referred to their nearest designated police investigation offices.”
Breakdown of Fraud Cases:
- Total Flagged Candidates: 17,417.
- Cleared After Rectification: 6,903.
- Under Police Investigation: 10,514.
- Confirmed Forgery Cases: 5,669.
- Undisclosed Institutional Admissions: 4,832.
Law Enforcement Collaboration: The investigation has been a joint effort between JAMB and law enforcement agencies. Dr. Benjamin explained: “With the assistance of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), the police successfully apprehended the 5 ring-leaders behind the scam who confessed to producing the fake admission letters and are currently being prosecuted at the FHC, Abuja in the case between Inspector General of Police Vs Effa Leonard and four (4) others.”
Institutional Compliance Issues: The investigation also uncovered institutional failures. Dr. Benjamin noted that among the flagged candidates, “4,832 candidates whose admission were then undisclosed to JAMB and who were being processed for condonement by their confessing institutions under a (2017-2020) ministerial waiver, impatiently engaged the syndicate to side-step the process.”
Stern Warning to Candidates and Stakeholders
JAMB has issued a comprehensive warning about the consequences of examination fraud. Dr. Benjamin emphasized: “Any candidate found to have employed or solicited assistance from examination and certificate fraudsters or deviated from laid down procedures for registration, examination or admission would continue to face the consequences which include prosecution under the Examination Malpractices Act which prescribes appropriate punishment even for the under-aged and their culpable mentors, guardians or parents.”
Planning ahead
The results has been released, and this is not going to be the last JAMB examination; so these data can help both JAMB and potential candidates to plan for subsequent exams.
For JAMB: The examination umpire can adopt the following recommendations;
1. Investigate Absenteeism: Conduct comprehensive analysis of why 88.5% of candidates failed to appear for exam to forestall future occurrence.
2. Refine Registration Process: Implement measures to ensure only serious candidates register.
3. Improve Communication: Candidates education about procedures and requirements should be intensified.
4. Alternative Access Methods: JAMB can develop backup systems for result access.
For Candidates: Potential JAMB candidates should ensure
1. Commitment to Examination: Only register if genuinely prepared to sit for the exam.
2. Compliance with Procedures: Follow all official JAMB guidelines strictly.
3. Avoidance of Fraudulent Schemes: Candidates should avoid fraud and report suspicious admission offers to appropriate authorities.
4. Safe Documentation: They should keep all registration materials and phone numbers accessible.
Conclusion
The 2025 JAMB MOP UP examination results reveal a tale of two contrasting realities: massive candidate absenteeism alongside successful anti-fraud operations. While the 88.5% absenteeism rate represents a significant challenge requiring immediate attention, JAMB’s success in identifying and prosecuting over 17,000 fraudulent cases demonstrates the board’s commitment to maintaining examination integrity.
The ongoing prosecution of fake admission letter syndicates and the strict enforcement of the Examination Malpractices Act send a clear message that fraudulent activities will not be tolerated. However, JAMB must also address the underlying issues causing such high absenteeism rates to ensure efficient use of resources and maintain the credibility of the examination system.
The collaboration between JAMB and law enforcement agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, represents a model for combating educational fraud that other examination bodies should emulate.