2023 UTME: JAMB PAYS N1.5B TO CBT CENTRES

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has paid a total sum of one billion, four hundred and seventyeight million, four hundred and sixteen thousand naira (N1,478,416,000.00) only, to owners of Non-JAMB Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide for the services they rendered during the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This figure is less N59,585,000, which is the part of the approved sum meant for JAMB – owned CBT centres.

The Board notes that it is only proper to promptly settle obligations as and when due so as to promote and sustain a cordial working relationship with partners who discharged their duties creditably. It is to be noted that most of the centres used for the examination are not JAMB-owned while some are ICT facilities of tertiary institutions.

This symbiotic relationship between the Board and the privately-owned CBT centres and others is collaborative in nature and is designed to ensure better quality service delivery and inclusiveness. Hence, the Board is proud to announce that all centres owners who rendered quality service during the just – concluded examination had been appropriately commended for a job well done and paid accordingly.

Furthermore, as a responsive organisation, the Board will continue to ensure that every candidate is guaranteed unfettered access to higher education through the provision of a level playing field for all. The Board also reiterates its resolve to continue to leverage on state-of-the-art technology, not only to deliver quality assessment, but also to protect the integrity of its examinations.

I DON’T VALUE A DOCILE UNION – OLOYEDE

The Registrar of t h e J o i n t Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB) Prof. I s-haq Oloyede, has submitted that he does not value a docile union. The Registrar made the submission when he played host to the newly- elected executive members of the JAMB Branch of the Non-Academic Educational and Allied Institutions Union (NASU) in his office at the Board’ s National Headquarters, Bwari, Abuja, on Tuesday, 13th June, 2023.

In his remarks, the Registrar congratulated the new executive members of the labour union on its laudable efforts at securing better working environment for its members. “ I congratulate you on your emergence as the leaders of your union, I believe that there are equally worthy people in your union yet your members gave you their mandate to represent them.

It’s a great trust. And I hope you will not betray that trust.” On the welfare of the staff, the Registrar charged the leadership of the labour union to always be proactive. “In my own view, labour unions will and should always agitate as without that they lose the the raison d’etre for their existence.” According to Prof. Oloyede, both the union and management are partners in progress. As such, the union should always call attention of the management to any decision that was deemed unhelpful to the Board. “If we will both be considerate, I believe we will arrive at a level that will be mutually beneficial to both sides.

This is, however, not to say that I’m canvassing for a docile union. This is undesirable as a docile union will neither be useful to the administration nor its members. If all the union does is to clap for the management, it’s a veritable path to destruction, but if there are issues and the union engages the administration on it, that may open the eyes of the management to extant issues from the perspective of the staff.”

The Registrar disclosed that the management would continue to extend its hands of fellowship to the Union towards achieving effective service delivery.

Earlier in his speech, the NASU Branch Chairman, Comrade Andrew Onakpa, expressed appreciation to the management, particularly the Registrar, for the various gestures of assistance extended to the staff, chief among which is the enhanced welfare package currently enjoyed by staff.

Comrade Onakpa further revealed that the union had embarked on the visit to introduce the newly-elected members of the union to the management towards fostering a harmonious working relationship in the Board. The new executive members and their portfolios as highlighted by the Chairman included: Comrade Andrew Onakpa, Branch Chairman; Comrade Mary Uket Eteng, Branch Secretary; Comrade Linus Attah, Branch Treasurer; Comrade Muhammed Ahijo, Ex-Officio; Comrade Virginia Ella, ExOfficio; Comrade Martina Abumbi, ExOfficio; Comrade Ishaku Azi, ExO f fi c i o; and C o m rade Ru t h Isoemimen, Ex-Officio.

APPLY FOR PROGRAMME CHANGE, JAMB CHARGES MATRICULANTS

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), represented by the Zonal Director, National Headquarters Annexe, Ilorin, Alhaji Aliyu Jibril, has charged newly matriculated students of the University of Ilorin, to apply for change of course /programme to reflect their current status. The Director made this known during the 2022/2023 Matriculation Ceremony held at the University’s Auditorium, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State.

The Registrar, who congratulated the matriculants, said they should be proud of themselves for being among the selected few to attend the prestigious institution. He enjoined them to be law-abiding, face their studies squarely, shun all forms of vices and be good ambassadors of their families and the institution. He also urged those matriculating students, whose programmes had been changed by the institution, to visit the NHA, Ilorin, to obtain new admission letters that would reflect their new programmes to avoid future hitches. In his address, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, charged the new students on the need to sustain the institution’s norms and values.

He added that the degrees offered by the University are awarded only to students, who are found worthy in character and learning, noting that the motto of the institution is “Probitas Doctrina” which is a Latin expression that translates to “Character and Learning”. According to Prof. Egbewole, “Probitas” (character) speaks about modesty, humility, uprightness, integrity and incorruptibility while “Doctrina” (Learning) is about teaching, instruction and knowledge, and could be translated simply as “for what is a man, howsoever rich, howsoever powerful, without teaching?” He noted that the combination of the two words implies that the students would need more than knowledge, teaching or riches to go far in life.

He, therefore, urged the matriculating students to explore the inherent power of humility, uprightness, decency and integrity in their academic sojourn and life in particular. He added that the University’s agenda, in line with global reality, is to create exceptionally intelligent and smart individuals, who in turn, would conquer territories and project the institution’s values wherever they found themselves.

In his closing remarks, the Vice Chancellor charged the newly matriculated students to mark the words of Mark Twain which says: “Don’t let schooling interfere with your education, the proof of going to school is your certificate, however, the proof of your education is your changed character of integrity, decency, uprightness, good conduct always and ability to solve problems through innovation and creativity”.

LAWAL DEPARTS NIGER STATE, ASSUMES DUTY IN LAFIA

The new Ag. Director, Lafia Zonal Office of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Mrs. Munirat Lawal, on Tuesday, 13th June, 2023, assumed d u ti e s i n h e r n ew p l a c e of assignment, when she also had her inaugural interactive session with members of staff of the office. In her remarks, Mrs. Lawal charged the staff to embrace the spirit of diligence and punctuality in the course of discharging their duties. She also advocated teamwork as key to achieving operational successes by the organization.

In the same vein, the new Ag. Director disclosed that she would run an open-door policy as well as work harmoniously with members of staff towards achieving the Board’s mandate. In his welcome remarks, the Deputy Director, State Matters, Mr. Chidebe Achunine, who spoke on behalf of the staff of the Zonal Office, assured the new Director of their maximum support.

In a related development, Mrs. Lawal, as part of her last official activities prior to her departure from the Niger State Office, where she had, until recently, served as the State Coordinator, planted some fruit trees towards promoting the Green Environment Initiative. In her interaction with JAMBulletin shortly before departing Minna, she expressed satisfaction with the level of support she enjoyed during her tenure as the State Coordinator and expressed appreciation to the management of the Board for her elevation and prayed for the success of the new helmsman, Malam Nasiru Yaro.

MAIDUGURI ZONAL OFFICE GETS NEW HELMSMAN

In line with its tradition of putting round pegs in round holes, the management of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ( JA M B) h a s re d e p l oy e d M r. Mohammed Suware, to the Maiduguri Zonal Office as an Ag. Director. Mr. Suware who assumed duty on Tuesday, 30th May, 2023, was the erstwhile State Coordinator, Yobe State Office of the Board. In an interaction with JAMBulletin, the Ag. Director charged members of staff of the Zonal Office, particularly, those in the Borno State Office, to be dedicated to their duties.

According to Mr. Suware, his administration would vigorously pursue efficient service delivery using various problem-solving techniques as would be unfolded in due course. He, therefore, urged staff to put in their best at all times. In his response, Mr. Ahmad Jungudo, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, welcomed the Director to the Zonal Office and pledged their unalloyed loyalty to the new helmsman and to the Board in general.

ICPC SENSITISES JAMB ON ANTI-CORRUPTION FIGHT

The Assistant Commissioner, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Suleiman Achiele, has said that the Commission would continue to work with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in its quest to have a corruption-free organisation, as well as partner with it in its desire to entrench the culture of integrity and transparency among its workforce. Mr. Achiele gave this assurance during a sensitisation lecture tagged: “The role of Public Servants in the Fight against Corruption” delivered recently at the Ondo State Office, Akure.

In his lecture, which focused on types, causes, effects, offences and punishment for corrupt practices under the 2000 ICPC Act, the Assistant Commissioner reiterated the necessity of imbibing the spirit of collective responsibility in fighting corruption in all its ramifications to attain a corruption-free Nigeria.

Mr. Achiele also dwelt extensively on all sections of the 2000 ICPC Act, as highlighted the offences and their punishments, which according to him, ranged from assets forfeitures, various kinds of fines, and years of imprisonment, if found guilty. In his reaction , the State Coordinator, M r. O lugbenga Akintola, reiterated that the Board had been a willing partner with the ICPC in its fight against corruption and other vices bedeviling the public service in the country.

He also disclosed that as part of the Board’s efforts to combat corrupt acts in its system, many members of staff had been sponsored on courses and workshops at the Anti-Corruption Academy in Keffi, Nassarawa State. M r. Ak i n tola al so expressed gratitude to the ICPC for its efforts in sensitising government agencies across the country against corrupt acts over the years. He, therefore, solicited more of such support for the Board.