JAMB Board scraps the use of scratch cards

Prof. Is-haq Oloyede  (dailypost)


The Registrar/Chief Executive of the board, Prof. Is-haq
Oloyede , made the announcement via a statement issued by
the Spokesperson of JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin on Sunday,
October 16 in Abuja during a meeting of the Association of
Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.
According to the statement, Oloyede demanded that the
Federal Government revert to the old system where serving
Vice Chancellors of Universities also served as chairmen of
the Governing Board of JAMB.
He said that JAMB would be using the platform of pin
vending to put a check on all forms of fraudulent practices
which has been prevalent with the use of scratch cards.
“The decision is as a result of its consistent subjection to
fraudulent practices, the use of scratch cards is archaic and it
is the drive by JAMB to also promote accountability in line with
government’s zero tolerance for corruption. This new system
will be accessible through the options of web payment, ATM
issued cards (Visa, verve and Mastercard), online quick teller,
ATM payment, quick teller mobile application and Bank Branch
case/card”, he said.
While he appealed to the Federal Government to revert to
the old system with VC's as the Board chairmen, Oloyede
added that it would be proper for Vice-Chancellors to be
recognised as active stakeholders seeing as the agency is a
creation of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors.
This, according to him, would avoid any resentment
between tertiary institutions and JAMB.
Oloyede expressed his belief that reverting to the old
practices would “engender good synergies and harmonious
relationship with a view to effectively delivering on its
mandates.”
He recalled that for almost two decades, particularly
between 1977 and 1993, only serving Vice-Chancellors were
made Chairmen of the Board of JAMB, since Prof Oladipo
Akinkugbe, VC University of Ilorin; Prof Donald E.U Ekong ,
VC University of Port Harcourt; Prof Adamu Baike , VC
University of Benin; Prof Mahdi Adamu , VC University of
Sokoto and Prof Isa Mohammed , VC University of Abuja.
“This practice which promoted harmony and quality inputs on
the Board’s matriculation activities have since been forgotten or
neglected. The appointment of the chairman of the Board could
be restricted to only heads of tertiary institutions in Nigeria
perhaps in rotational basis among the Vice-Chancellor of
Universities, Rectors of Polytechnics, Monotechnics and
Provosts of Colleges of Education," he said.