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| UTME Candidates |
When JAMB sanctioned erring CBT centres
Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu looks at the measures the Joint Admission and
Matriculation Board has taken to check sharp practices by licensed agents of
JAMB in the ongoing registration and reports that eleven centres have been
sanctioned.
Matriculation Board has taken to check sharp practices by licensed agents of
JAMB in the ongoing registration and reports that eleven centres have been
sanctioned.
Eleven licences withdrawn
The Joint Admissions
and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has withdrawn licences of 11 centres for
charging candidates exorbitant amount in the registration of 2020 Unified
Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).
and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has withdrawn licences of 11 centres for
charging candidates exorbitant amount in the registration of 2020 Unified
Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).
The registrar of JAMB,
Professor Is’haq Oloyede, disclosed this in Abuja Tuesday during an interactive
session with officers and men of the Nigeria Security and civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),
banks, e-transact, Digital Partner Network, Interswitch and other stakeholders.
Professor Is’haq Oloyede, disclosed this in Abuja Tuesday during an interactive
session with officers and men of the Nigeria Security and civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),
banks, e-transact, Digital Partner Network, Interswitch and other stakeholders.
Oloyede said that the
proliferation of tutorial centres was a major concern as most of the centres
engaged in fraud and corruption, during registration and examination.
proliferation of tutorial centres was a major concern as most of the centres
engaged in fraud and corruption, during registration and examination.
He further said that
charging above the stipulated N4, 700 for the 2020 UTME registration was
illegitimate and would only destroy the nation; as it was an act of fraud and
corruption.
charging above the stipulated N4, 700 for the 2020 UTME registration was
illegitimate and would only destroy the nation; as it was an act of fraud and
corruption.
He said that the
exorbitant amounts charged could have negative effects on the nation and would
destroy the system.
exorbitant amounts charged could have negative effects on the nation and would
destroy the system.
“Many people make
illegitimate money from the examination and we will be destroying the nation,
if we don’t get things right.
illegitimate money from the examination and we will be destroying the nation,
if we don’t get things right.
“Prior to 2018, we sell
form for N5, 000, but the Federal Government considered so many things and felt
the money was much so in 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari decided that the cost
should be slashed; which brought the cost to N3,500.
form for N5, 000, but the Federal Government considered so many things and felt
the money was much so in 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari decided that the cost
should be slashed; which brought the cost to N3,500.
“Also, prior to this
time, there were unscrupulous people selling as high as N10, 000. We now
democratised the sale of the forms, to make it available so that it will not be
possible for those selling to hoard the forms.
time, there were unscrupulous people selling as high as N10, 000. We now
democratised the sale of the forms, to make it available so that it will not be
possible for those selling to hoard the forms.
“We felt the banks are
overcrowded so we decided to expand the sales outlet, to bring in mobile money
operators to cover all the registered banks.
overcrowded so we decided to expand the sales outlet, to bring in mobile money
operators to cover all the registered banks.
“The effects of the
expansion are that some people are still penetrating the banks, thereby
increasing the cost of the sale of form,” Oloyeded said.
expansion are that some people are still penetrating the banks, thereby
increasing the cost of the sale of form,” Oloyeded said.
The registrar further
said that the board was magnanimous enough to pay the sum of N210 as commission
for each of the forms sold, to about 2 million candidates nationwide; saying
extorting the candidates was unjust.
said that the board was magnanimous enough to pay the sum of N210 as commission
for each of the forms sold, to about 2 million candidates nationwide; saying
extorting the candidates was unjust.
He added that the board
was working closely with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),
to ensure that any agent who sold above the prescribed fee was brought to book.
was working closely with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),
to ensure that any agent who sold above the prescribed fee was brought to book.
He, therefore, called
on NSCDC to assist in arresting any erring centre while also calling on
candidates to report any centre involved in the act to commandants in their
various states.
on NSCDC to assist in arresting any erring centre while also calling on
candidates to report any centre involved in the act to commandants in their
various states.
He also said that the
board, in a bid to eradicate the problems and to ensure tracking, had directed
its agents selling forms to ensure they have the National Identification Number
(NIN).
board, in a bid to eradicate the problems and to ensure tracking, had directed
its agents selling forms to ensure they have the National Identification Number
(NIN).
Centres sanctioned
The registrar listed
some of the centres whose licences were withdrawn to include Federal
Polytechnic, Mubi; Adamawa; Adazi-Nnukwu ICT/CBT for selling forms at N5,000,
Emkenlyn Computers, Nnaemeka Secondary School, Anambra.
some of the centres whose licences were withdrawn to include Federal
Polytechnic, Mubi; Adamawa; Adazi-Nnukwu ICT/CBT for selling forms at N5,000,
Emkenlyn Computers, Nnaemeka Secondary School, Anambra.
Others areNew Kings and
Queens Bayelsa, for selling at N5,500; Brightfield Secondary School, Delta, for
selling between N6,000 and N8,000; A-Pagen Consolidated Port Harcourt, for
selling at N5,000 and Influential School, Port Harcourt, for selling at N6,000.
Queens Bayelsa, for selling at N5,500; Brightfield Secondary School, Delta, for
selling between N6,000 and N8,000; A-Pagen Consolidated Port Harcourt, for
selling at N5,000 and Influential School, Port Harcourt, for selling at N6,000.
The cost of the registration is N3,500, cost
of materials is N500 and N700 for the CBT centres; totalling N4,700.
of materials is N500 and N700 for the CBT centres; totalling N4,700.
NSCDC
Commandant-General
Commandant-General
Meanwhile, the
Commandant-General of NSCDC, Mr
Abdullahi Muhammadu, urged the Board to limit the tutorial centres in the country,
while making sure that list of certified tutorial centres were revealed to
reduce infractions, as it relates to examinations.
Commandant-General of NSCDC, Mr
Abdullahi Muhammadu, urged the Board to limit the tutorial centres in the country,
while making sure that list of certified tutorial centres were revealed to
reduce infractions, as it relates to examinations.
Muhammadu also called
on commandants in the various states to make integrity their watchword, in
order not to betray the confidence the board has in them and Nigerians.
on commandants in the various states to make integrity their watchword, in
order not to betray the confidence the board has in them and Nigerians.
Panic buying
The registrar said that panic buying by UTME candidates, and
encouraged by parents, encouraged the extortion of candidates by unscrupulous
elements; the action he said, was worse than the extortion itself.
encouraged by parents, encouraged the extortion of candidates by unscrupulous
elements; the action he said, was worse than the extortion itself.
The registrar lamented that the federal government had cut down the
price of UTME registration from N5000 to N3500 to reduce the burden on parents
but some unscrupulous elements in the registration process were devising
dubious means to extort the candidates and their parents.
price of UTME registration from N5000 to N3500 to reduce the burden on parents
but some unscrupulous elements in the registration process were devising
dubious means to extort the candidates and their parents.
“In order to do this, these people purposely created bottleneck to
create panic in candidates in order to extort them with ease,” he said.
create panic in candidates in order to extort them with ease,” he said.
In order to put off the eyes of money outlets from the registration
money candidates paid, JAMB gives N210 as commission to all sale outlets for
each form sold.
money candidates paid, JAMB gives N210 as commission to all sale outlets for
each form sold.
“The extortion of candidates is ongoing all over the centres across
Nigeria. For this, we are asking you (Nigeria Security and civil Defence Corps,
NSCDC) to assist the JAMB in arresting the situation.
Nigeria. For this, we are asking you (Nigeria Security and civil Defence Corps,
NSCDC) to assist the JAMB in arresting the situation.
“Every JAMB agent, both
original and sub-agents, have national identification number (NIN) to prevent
enemies of the state from using them.”
original and sub-agents, have national identification number (NIN) to prevent
enemies of the state from using them.”
Speaking further, Oloyede said the so-called tutorial centres that were
immersed in examination malpractices are
owned by school certificate holders who are only out for making huge profits
from extorting candidates and parents. He therefore, asked NSCD to focus
attention on tutorial centres which, he says, have become training grounds for
examination malpractice.
immersed in examination malpractices are
owned by school certificate holders who are only out for making huge profits
from extorting candidates and parents. He therefore, asked NSCD to focus
attention on tutorial centres which, he says, have become training grounds for
examination malpractice.
“We allow all licensed banks to go to CBT centres but some centres
are rejecting the bank agents. If we find that such action takes place in a CBT
centre, we will withdraw its licence.”
are rejecting the bank agents. If we find that such action takes place in a CBT
centre, we will withdraw its licence.”
Destroying future
The registrar said some parents are destroying the future of their
children by choosing courses for them in the universities not knowing that destiny is not dependent on the course read
from school.
children by choosing courses for them in the universities not knowing that destiny is not dependent on the course read
from school.
JAMB under fire for NIN requirement
The compulsory requirement for NIN in relation
to the limited timeframe between its acquisition and sitting for UTME had
attracted criticisms from stakeholders, thus many prominent stakeholders
advised the Board to suspend the compulsory
requirement for the National Identification Number (NIN).
to the limited timeframe between its acquisition and sitting for UTME had
attracted criticisms from stakeholders, thus many prominent stakeholders
advised the Board to suspend the compulsory
requirement for the National Identification Number (NIN).
Many believed that the suspension would provide
enough capacity to cope with the volume of persons seeking registration within
the very short time limit given by JAMB.
enough capacity to cope with the volume of persons seeking registration within
the very short time limit given by JAMB.
The NIN suspension
JAMB, under pressure, suspended the use of the NIN
for registration for the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)
till 2021.
for registration for the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)
till 2021.
The registrar made this known while speaking to
newsmen in Abuja.
newsmen in Abuja.
He said the decision was made to provide more
time for candidates to get their national identification numbers.
time for candidates to get their national identification numbers.
Oloyede also stated that the suspension was to
address the technical challenges experienced at some centres, adding that the
exam body would consider the use of NIN for 2021 examinations.
address the technical challenges experienced at some centres, adding that the
exam body would consider the use of NIN for 2021 examinations.
“We also decided to suspend that prerequisite
based on some technical issues on ground.
based on some technical issues on ground.
“We came
to a decision yesterday and decided that we will suspend the use of NIN as a
prerequisite for the 2020 UTME and Direct Entry (DE) registration until 2021.
to a decision yesterday and decided that we will suspend the use of NIN as a
prerequisite for the 2020 UTME and Direct Entry (DE) registration until 2021.
“By then, all candidates would have been given
one year notice to register.
one year notice to register.
“This does not affect our permanent and ad hoc
staff who will participate in the exercise as they will require the NIN for
verification.
staff who will participate in the exercise as they will require the NIN for
verification.
“We have gone round and seen the passion and
commitment of the candidates; the reality on ground is that what we expect is
not attainable at the moment, so we shall not inflict more pain on candidates.”
commitment of the candidates; the reality on ground is that what we expect is
not attainable at the moment, so we shall not inflict more pain on candidates.”
The registrar also noted that technical issues
on ground with regards to the system of registration at the NIMC was one of the
major reasons for the suspension.
on ground with regards to the system of registration at the NIMC was one of the
major reasons for the suspension.
According to him, plans are underway for the
provision of a more advanced system that will be more efficient for the
exercise.
provision of a more advanced system that will be more efficient for the
exercise.
He also said that the board and NIMC would
continue to share its intelligence reports as well as other plans for the
smooth conduct of the exercise in future.
continue to share its intelligence reports as well as other plans for the
smooth conduct of the exercise in future.
NIN to tackle malpractice
Oloyeded reiterated that the need for NIN as a
prerequisite for the exercise was to tackle identity fraud during examinations.
prerequisite for the exercise was to tackle identity fraud during examinations.
The Director-General of NIMC, Mr Aliyu Azeez, on
his part said that the move was necessary as the Commission was overwhelmed
with the exercise within the short time given.
his part said that the move was necessary as the Commission was overwhelmed
with the exercise within the short time given.
He said that NIMC had only 1,000 centres around
the country for the exercise and would need up to 4,000 to conduct such
exercise.
the country for the exercise and would need up to 4,000 to conduct such
exercise.
He however, stated that the partnership with
JAMB would continue while advising parents and candidates for the 2021 UTME to
use the opportunity to acquire the number within the stipulated time to avoid
last-minute rushes.
JAMB would continue while advising parents and candidates for the 2021 UTME to
use the opportunity to acquire the number within the stipulated time to avoid
last-minute rushes.
Azeez also said that by 2021, NIMC registration
would be made available at JAMB Computer-Based Tests (CBT) centres nationwide,
with operators on ground to capture candidates.
would be made available at JAMB Computer-Based Tests (CBT) centres nationwide,
with operators on ground to capture candidates.
JAMB has fixed this
year’s examination for March 14 to April 4, while an optional mock examination
for candidates is scheduled for February 18.
year’s examination for March 14 to April 4, while an optional mock examination
for candidates is scheduled for February 18.