Board scraps the use of scratch cards

ALSO READ: "Your UTME results will now be valid for up to 3 years" - Senate

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.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oloyede appealed to the Federal Government to revert to the old system with VC's as the Board chairmen, adding 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.”

ALSO READ: Prof. labels Senate's directive on result validity as dangerous

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.