JAMB Firmly Dismisses Refund Demands as Candidates Incur Charges Checking Delayed UTME Results
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has categorically rejected calls for refunds from candidates who spent money trying to check the results of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination before they were officially released. This issue emerged following a significant delay in the release of results for candidates who sat the examination on Friday, April 17, 2026.
Official Communications and Apologies
On Saturday, JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin addressed the situation on social media platform X, writing: “Follow me for prompt updates as soon as the results are officially released.” He later issued an apology after the board failed to meet the earlier timeline, stating: “Our Chief Executive was unavailable due to an important engagement but would be in the office today, and we assure you that the results will be released later today, surely before nightfall.”
Benjamin added: “We also extend our heartfelt apologies to those who stayed up waiting for the release. Thank you for your patience and understanding.” Despite this assurance, numerous candidates reported making repeated attempts to check their results, incurring charges in the process through various service platforms.
Board's Firm Stance on Refund Demands
When contacted about the refund demands, Benjamin dismissed them outright and insisted the board had not announced any official release at the time candidates were checking. “Result is a very sensitive matter. It’s not something he can delegate. But he is back now. We are going to release the result soon,” he explained regarding the Registrar's involvement.
He further questioned the basis for refund requests: “Why would you say they deduct money for something that has not been released? When we release results, we will tell Nigerians. So what refunds are you talking about? If they check, how is that supposed to be our business?” This statement underscores JAMB's position that candidates checking results prematurely does not create liability for the examination body.
Background on the Delay and Assurance
Benjamin clarified that JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede had been in Lagos for an official engagement but had since returned to Abuja. He reassured candidates that the delayed results would be released promptly. Later on Sunday evening, he repeated on X that the results for the Friday examination would be made public within hours, maintaining transparency about the timeline despite the earlier setback.
The incident highlights the tension between examination bodies and candidates regarding communication protocols and financial implications of service access delays. While JAMB has apologized for the timing issue, it maintains that refunds for premature checking attempts are not its responsibility, setting a precedent for how similar situations might be handled in the future.
