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| Oloyede |
JAMB
registrar: The duty and the moral
registrar: The duty and the moral
By Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
Background
The
joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in January invited some of its
accredited agents in the 2020 Universities Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration
process to its headquarters in Abuja to discuss some salient issues.
joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in January invited some of its
accredited agents in the 2020 Universities Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration
process to its headquarters in Abuja to discuss some salient issues.
UJI Abdullahi Iliyasu reports that when the
JAMB registrar asked the invited CBT centre operators to explain some
infractions identified in their activities, some were ‘found guilty’ and handed
over to the law enforcement agents for prosecution.
JAMB registrar asked the invited CBT centre operators to explain some
infractions identified in their activities, some were ‘found guilty’ and handed
over to the law enforcement agents for prosecution.
The
handover
handover
On
Jan 29, 2020, the registrar of JAMB, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, in what many
stakeholders described as ‘eye-service’, lured the operators of Computer Based Test
(CBT) centres involved in the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination
(UTME) registration irregularities to the board’s headquarters and handed them
to security agents for prosecution.
Jan 29, 2020, the registrar of JAMB, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, in what many
stakeholders described as ‘eye-service’, lured the operators of Computer Based Test
(CBT) centres involved in the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination
(UTME) registration irregularities to the board’s headquarters and handed them
to security agents for prosecution.
This
happened after cross examinations of the operators by registrar who found them
guilty as charged.
happened after cross examinations of the operators by registrar who found them
guilty as charged.
Oloyode
had invited the unsuspecting operators to stakeholders’ dialogue in JAMB
corporate headquarters only for them be interrogated on various degrees of
fraud they were said to have committed.
had invited the unsuspecting operators to stakeholders’ dialogue in JAMB
corporate headquarters only for them be interrogated on various degrees of
fraud they were said to have committed.
The
overwhelming evidences JAMB officials had tendered against their CBT partners
included sets of laptops that the JAMB supervisors had earlier confiscated from
the centres.
overwhelming evidences JAMB officials had tendered against their CBT partners
included sets of laptops that the JAMB supervisors had earlier confiscated from
the centres.
Earlier, JAMB had revoked licenses of some CBT
centres and blacklisted them. The
operators of those centres probably thinking that JAMB was going resolve the
issues with them came all the way from the six geopolitical zones and 36 states
of the federation and the FCT only to be
arrested.
centres and blacklisted them. The
operators of those centres probably thinking that JAMB was going resolve the
issues with them came all the way from the six geopolitical zones and 36 states
of the federation and the FCT only to be
arrested.
According
to the statistics presented, JAMB officials had seized 25 computer sets from
the South-South; eight from South-East; five from South-West; nine from the
North-Central and one from the North-East.
to the statistics presented, JAMB officials had seized 25 computer sets from
the South-South; eight from South-East; five from South-West; nine from the
North-Central and one from the North-East.
The
registrar said that in the 2019 UTME, their attention was focused on fraudulent
activities of students but they found that the activities of the operators were
more important in 2020 therefore, beamed their searchlight on CBT centres and
found massive fraud in the registration process across the six geopolitical
zones and 36 states and FCT.
registrar said that in the 2019 UTME, their attention was focused on fraudulent
activities of students but they found that the activities of the operators were
more important in 2020 therefore, beamed their searchlight on CBT centres and
found massive fraud in the registration process across the six geopolitical
zones and 36 states and FCT.
“Last
time we devoted our time to arrest students but this year we will focus on CBT
centre operators
time we devoted our time to arrest students but this year we will focus on CBT
centre operators
“We
can track fraudsters even to their fathers’ houses,” Oloyode said.
can track fraudsters even to their fathers’ houses,” Oloyode said.
One
of the operators was identified by the registrar as one who had been previously
caught for multiple registrations by security agents but was later forgiven and
asked to write a letter of undertaking for good behaviour which he did not
keep.
of the operators was identified by the registrar as one who had been previously
caught for multiple registrations by security agents but was later forgiven and
asked to write a letter of undertaking for good behaviour which he did not
keep.
The
visibly angry registrar said that an average parent in Nigeria would not want
his child to wait on the queue for a second, therefore prefers a short cut to
normal process of registration.
visibly angry registrar said that an average parent in Nigeria would not want
his child to wait on the queue for a second, therefore prefers a short cut to
normal process of registration.
“A
prima facie case of cyber crimes has been established. All candidates who had
been wrongly registered by these fraudsters should be aware that they will not
be allowed to write the 2020 UTME.
prima facie case of cyber crimes has been established. All candidates who had
been wrongly registered by these fraudsters should be aware that they will not
be allowed to write the 2020 UTME.
“In
our Weekly Bulletin, the centres that were blacklisted are shown there.
Students should avoid patronising them. They should not give their registration
number to anybody, not even to their parents.”
our Weekly Bulletin, the centres that were blacklisted are shown there.
Students should avoid patronising them. They should not give their registration
number to anybody, not even to their parents.”
But most operators who were taken by surprise
argued that they had not done anything illegal.
argued that they had not done anything illegal.
When
the registrar was asked whether JAMB would reregister the innocent candidates
who were affected by the cyber fraud by the operators, he said doing that (reregistering the
candidates) would cause more confusion, but promised that something might be
done to save the candidates,
the registrar was asked whether JAMB would reregister the innocent candidates
who were affected by the cyber fraud by the operators, he said doing that (reregistering the
candidates) would cause more confusion, but promised that something might be
done to save the candidates,
Some
of the centres blacklisted and their operators consequently arrested include
Federal Polytechnic, Boni Haruna road, Mubi, Adamawa state; Dialogue Computer
Institute, Katsina; A-Pagen Consolidated Services Limited CBT centre, Port
Harcourt, Rivers state; Rise-wise CBT centre’ Triton International School,
Masaka, Nasarawa state; Mega Data View Computers, Oguta road, Anambra state;
among others.
of the centres blacklisted and their operators consequently arrested include
Federal Polytechnic, Boni Haruna road, Mubi, Adamawa state; Dialogue Computer
Institute, Katsina; A-Pagen Consolidated Services Limited CBT centre, Port
Harcourt, Rivers state; Rise-wise CBT centre’ Triton International School,
Masaka, Nasarawa state; Mega Data View Computers, Oguta road, Anambra state;
among others.
Virtual Private
Network
Network
The board had
accused some CBT centre owners of infractions in the 2020 UTME and Direct Entry
examination, using the Virtual Private Network (VPN). This was part of the
reason the CBT operators were cornered and handed over to the police.
accused some CBT centre owners of infractions in the 2020 UTME and Direct Entry
examination, using the Virtual Private Network (VPN). This was part of the
reason the CBT operators were cornered and handed over to the police.
The meeting was
attended by a representative from the office of the Inspector-General of Police
(IGP), Nigeria Security and Civil defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State
Security, among other security agencies.
attended by a representative from the office of the Inspector-General of Police
(IGP), Nigeria Security and Civil defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State
Security, among other security agencies.
JAMB registrar, who addressed reporters at the
end of the meeting, said the board, in its continuous effort to fight
examination malpractice, decided to focus more on CBT centres and the
infractions they committed in the 2020 registration of candidates.
end of the meeting, said the board, in its continuous effort to fight
examination malpractice, decided to focus more on CBT centres and the
infractions they committed in the 2020 registration of candidates.
He said some of
their alleged crimes included submission of fictitious names and fake national
identification numbers (NIN) to the board by the centre owners as officers that
would partake in the exercise.
their alleged crimes included submission of fictitious names and fake national
identification numbers (NIN) to the board by the centre owners as officers that
would partake in the exercise.
Some of the NIN
numbers, the registrar added, included candidates’ numbers, duplicated and sent
to the board as NIN for registration officers, who were later discovered to be
non-existent.
numbers, the registrar added, included candidates’ numbers, duplicated and sent
to the board as NIN for registration officers, who were later discovered to be
non-existent.
He explained that some of the CBT owners extended the
VPN on their computers already registered by the board to extend the point of
registration to undesignated locations.
VPN on their computers already registered by the board to extend the point of
registration to undesignated locations.
“As far as I am
concerned, a prima facie case has been established against all involved and
they will go and give their statements to the police.
concerned, a prima facie case has been established against all involved and
they will go and give their statements to the police.
“Our present
technology enables us to track all registration officers, either ad hoc or
permanent JAMB workers, through the National Identification Numbers (NIN).
technology enables us to track all registration officers, either ad hoc or
permanent JAMB workers, through the National Identification Numbers (NIN).
“All designated computers used for the registration
have also been duly registered by the board, which enables tracking, and has
successfully led us to crimes committed by some of the centres.
have also been duly registered by the board, which enables tracking, and has
successfully led us to crimes committed by some of the centres.
“I appeal to candidates and their parents to go
through the normal process of this exercise. Those who go to unaccredited
centres, thinking it will work on their favour, would have themselves to blame.
through the normal process of this exercise. Those who go to unaccredited
centres, thinking it will work on their favour, would have themselves to blame.
“Our position remains to let the incoming generation
have a better society,” Oloyede said.
have a better society,” Oloyede said.
45
centres blacklisted
centres blacklisted
Before
the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination (UTME), JAMB had
blacklisted 45 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres from further engaging in the
2020 UTME and Direct Entry (DE) processes.
the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination (UTME), JAMB had
blacklisted 45 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres from further engaging in the
2020 UTME and Direct Entry (DE) processes.
This
was contained in the board’s weekly bulletin made available to Blueprint by JAMB’s
Head of Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, in Abuja.
was contained in the board’s weekly bulletin made available to Blueprint by JAMB’s
Head of Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, in Abuja.
In
the bulletin, out of the 692 listed centres, only 647 CBT centres had JAMB’s
approval to continue with the UTME/DE process.
the bulletin, out of the 692 listed centres, only 647 CBT centres had JAMB’s
approval to continue with the UTME/DE process.
The
bulletin further showed that four out of the 43 CBT centres had been suspended
for technical deficiency during third party examination and another three for
extortion of candidates directly or by proxy.
bulletin further showed that four out of the 43 CBT centres had been suspended
for technical deficiency during third party examination and another three for
extortion of candidates directly or by proxy.
Registrar’s
worry
worry
Before
now Oloyede had expressed worry over the nefarious activities of some CBT
centres, banks, e-PIN agents, tutorial centres, some parents/guardians and
candidates either during registrations, at the examination or after the
examinations.
now Oloyede had expressed worry over the nefarious activities of some CBT
centres, banks, e-PIN agents, tutorial centres, some parents/guardians and
candidates either during registrations, at the examination or after the
examinations.
The
registrar insisted that extortion, examination malpractice and other
examination-related crimes would destroy the nation if not checked. He
therefore, sought the assistance of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence
Corps (NSCDC) in a bid to change the horrible trend.
registrar insisted that extortion, examination malpractice and other
examination-related crimes would destroy the nation if not checked. He
therefore, sought the assistance of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence
Corps (NSCDC) in a bid to change the horrible trend.
“We made a national appraisal of what was
happening; many people make illegitimate money from the examination because of
the innocence of these young boys and girls.
happening; many people make illegitimate money from the examination because of
the innocence of these young boys and girls.
“If
possible, we need to stop them at this point of registration so they don’t
frustrate our efforts and that of other genuine candidates who desire
admission. The cost of prosecution is high. So, we need to stop them,” Oloyede
appealed.
possible, we need to stop them at this point of registration so they don’t
frustrate our efforts and that of other genuine candidates who desire
admission. The cost of prosecution is high. So, we need to stop them,” Oloyede
appealed.
The
duty and the moral
duty and the moral
It
is true that JAMB registrar is working round the clock to ensure that the body
responsible for the common entrance examination into tertiary institutions in
the country is sanitised through curbing sharp practices in the registration
process and the subsequent examination malpractice in computer-based test
centres, also known as CBT centres.
is true that JAMB registrar is working round the clock to ensure that the body
responsible for the common entrance examination into tertiary institutions in
the country is sanitised through curbing sharp practices in the registration
process and the subsequent examination malpractice in computer-based test
centres, also known as CBT centres.
In
January 2020 when bread winners in the average families were still smarting
under the pain of partying with their fortunes in celebrating Christmas and the
New year, Oloyede lured CBT centre operators to the JAMB headquarters at Bwari,
instituted a court in which he was the prosecutor and at the same time the
judge.
January 2020 when bread winners in the average families were still smarting
under the pain of partying with their fortunes in celebrating Christmas and the
New year, Oloyede lured CBT centre operators to the JAMB headquarters at Bwari,
instituted a court in which he was the prosecutor and at the same time the
judge.
Unaware
of the bait, the CBT centre owners came
in large numbers, even some who were not invited came on their own.
of the bait, the CBT centre owners came
in large numbers, even some who were not invited came on their own.
Among
those men and women were the old and the elderly who were subjected to pressmen’s
camera like common criminals.
those men and women were the old and the elderly who were subjected to pressmen’s
camera like common criminals.
Induction
for agents necessary
for agents necessary
One
question that bothers a patriot’s mind is, has JAMB organised any training
workshop for its CBT centre owners prior to their arrest? Were they given the
incentives that would have taken their eyes off the proceedings accruing from
the registration? Why would JAMB do the work of the Police? Why wouldn’t the
security agents arrest the alleged registration scammers at their places of
work? If the operators had a union and
protested the arrest of their members and had gone on indefinite strike, how
would candidates write the UTME?
question that bothers a patriot’s mind is, has JAMB organised any training
workshop for its CBT centre owners prior to their arrest? Were they given the
incentives that would have taken their eyes off the proceedings accruing from
the registration? Why would JAMB do the work of the Police? Why wouldn’t the
security agents arrest the alleged registration scammers at their places of
work? If the operators had a union and
protested the arrest of their members and had gone on indefinite strike, how
would candidates write the UTME?
These
questions unless answered affirmatively, will prove critics who argued that the
registrar’s action was tantamount to grandstanding and a mere display of eye-service,
right.
questions unless answered affirmatively, will prove critics who argued that the
registrar’s action was tantamount to grandstanding and a mere display of eye-service,
right.
The
funniest aspect, some stakeholders said, was that those who were clapping hands
for the registrar failed to note that a visitor to your house, no matter what
wrong he had previously done to you, should be honoured. Also if you invite a man
to your house with the intention of fighting him, you are a coward.
funniest aspect, some stakeholders said, was that those who were clapping hands
for the registrar failed to note that a visitor to your house, no matter what
wrong he had previously done to you, should be honoured. Also if you invite a man
to your house with the intention of fighting him, you are a coward.
Also
the security agents, if they had a sense of duty, would have felt ashamed for a
chief executive of a government establishment to arrest ‘criminals’ and handed
over to them in their comfort zones without any struggle in line of duty.
the security agents, if they had a sense of duty, would have felt ashamed for a
chief executive of a government establishment to arrest ‘criminals’ and handed
over to them in their comfort zones without any struggle in line of duty.
A
message sent to JAMB’s head of media and publicity, Dr Fabian Benjamin, to
confirm what has been the fate of the arrested CBT centre operators was not responded
to before going to press.
message sent to JAMB’s head of media and publicity, Dr Fabian Benjamin, to
confirm what has been the fate of the arrested CBT centre operators was not responded
to before going to press.