The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has strongly criticized the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its handling of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), describing the management as "grossly inadequate" and calling for immediate reforms.

In a statement released on Friday, NNPP Southwest leader Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo declared that the current JAMB officials are unfit for their positions, citing serious lapses in the examination process that have affected thousands of candidates nationwide.

"The recent admission of errors by JAMB is an embarrassment to our nation. Their inefficiency has caused immense sorrow for families affected by this situation. The government must take decisive action to address these failures," Oguntoyinbo stated.

The NNPP leader emphasized that JAMB's role is crucial for millions of Nigerian students seeking admission into tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. He noted that the registrar's apology does little to address the suffering of affected candidates and their families.

Of particular concern were reports that some students allegedly lost their lives due to frustrations linked to the examination process, prompting the party to express condolences to the bereaved families.

The NNPP has called on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, to launch a comprehensive probe into JAMB's operations and hold accountable those responsible for the examination irregularities.

Among the recommendations put forward by the party is the decentralization of the matriculation examination process, which they believe could ease the burden on JAMB and improve overall efficiency in the system.

The party also advised that any rescheduled examinations should allow candidates sufficient preparation time to avoid repeating the same mistakes that led to the current crisis.

This criticism comes amid growing concerns about JAMB's examination management, with various stakeholders in the education sector calling for systemic reforms to address recurring challenges in Nigeria's tertiary education admission process.