The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has scrapped the use of scratch card for any of its transactions and services.
The Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made the announcement in Abuja in a paper he delivered during a meeting of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.
He described the practice as “archaic” and one that should be ended in order to move the agency forward.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB says it will now deploy the pin vending platform to check all forms of fraudulent practices which was prevalent with the use of scratch cards.
He explained: “The decision is as a result of its consistent subjection to fraudulent practices; the use of scratch cards is archaic and it is the aim of 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.”
Oloyede also suggested a return to the old practice which saw only serving vice-chancellors being made chairmen of the Governing Board of JAMB since the agency was a creation of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian universities.
This, he said, would “engender good synergies and harmonious relationship with a view to effectively delivering on its mandates” as he believed that the current setup has led to acrimony between tertiary institutions and JAMB.
Amendment Act
Prof Oloyede has also called on the Nigerian Senate to suspend the amendment of the JAMB Act.
The Nigerian Senate had on October 13, recommended the extension of the validity of JAMB examination results for three years from the date of the examination.
Federal lawmakers took this decision to amend the JAMB Act after the Chairman of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tetfund, Senator Jibrin Barua, read the report of the committee which was mandated to work on the act.
Oloyede has now explained that the bill was a product of acrimony and if passed would be counter-productive.
“An appeal has been made to the National Assembly to suspend the process of the amendment to allow the Board and tertiary institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to go back to the roundtable for discussion at a conducive atmosphere, as all agreed to work together for the benefit of the Nigerian child,” the statement said.
3-Year Validity
The Senate committee recommended that a candidate who meets the requirements for admission and is duly qualified shall remain so qualified for three years.
The committee also recommended that a candidate awaiting admission shall be given preference in the succeeding year over fresh applicants who shall only become eligible when the backlog has been cleared.
The committee also recommended that the matriculation examinations conducted by the board shall be the sole examination required for admission and entry into all universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to the exclusion of any other institution or body.
The Senate approved all the recommendations.
