The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has recommended tough penalties for 11 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres and their registrants involved in fingerprint irregularities during registration for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, gave the hunt after a brainstorming session with some critical stakeholders, following a meeting with the affected CBT centres and registrants, yesterday, in Abuja.

He said the measures, which still require the approval of Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, are intended to protect the integrity of the examination process.

“The leadership of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, with some critical stakeholders, hereby recommends that: Any registrant who has registered more than 50 candidates (with infractions) should be dismissed from participating in the activities of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

“And what that means is that such a person will not participate in any UTME exercise, will not be registered for the UTME even as a student, and will not be allowed to participate in any of the sister examinations, be it WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB, and this is to be for three years.

“The suspension is to stay for three years. After three years, the board will revisit it and look at the issue. If the registrant has shown any remorse, such a suspension could be lifted.

“And others who have registered less than 50 will be warned and they will be required to write a letter of apology to the board after issuing a bond, indicating that they will not be involved in such a thing again.

“Then for CBT centres, those involved are to be warned and then they will be asked to sign a bond. Beside the bond, they will also be required to give evidence of training of their registrants.

“And that training should be anchored by any of the federal universities within their vicinity. That training should be anchored by the appropriate department of the university within their vicinity,” Oloyede said through JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, who read out the recommendations.

Oloyede, however, said the Board would not entertain any infraction from the affected centres in the future despite their claim of ignorance, hence, the need for them to undergo necessary training in federal universities closest to them before they can be re-engaged by JAMB.