The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ( JAMB ), has suspended the University of Benin ICT Computer Based Test (CBT) centre and eight others from partaking in this year’s unified tertiary matriculation examination registration.
The board stated that the centres were suspended for breaching the code governing the 2019 registration exercise.
JAMB disclosed these in its weekly news bulletin obtained by The Nation on Monday in Abuja.
JAMB’s Spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, also said the board was monitoring the activities of 10 more centres in Lagos and Plateau states, noting that appropriate action would be taken against them once investigation is concluded.
The suspended centres include Mardakem Company Ltd., Methodist Boys High School, College Road, beside Maritime Academy, Oron, Akwa-Ibom state; Bintels Global Services LTD. (Centre for Computer Education), Fr. Joseph Memorial High Sch. Aguleri, Anambra State; Noble & Shuaib ICT Ltd, Girls Secondary School, Alor, Anambra State; and Global ICT Connect Ltd, Km 5, Gboko Rd, Opp College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi.
Others are: DA Civic Centre, 79 Airport Road by Benoni Junction, Benin city, Edo State; University Of Benin International ICT Centre, Iyayi Computer Building, Benin City, Edo State; Medes ICT Centre, Govt. Technical College, Idepe, Okitipupa, Ondo State; Divine Success All CBT Centre, Km1, Along Iseyin Ibadan Expressway Iseyin, Oyo State; and Riyom ICT Centre, former Riyom Local Govt Secretariat, Riyom, Plateau State.
According to him, the board, during a meeting with CBT operators in Lagos, had spelt out the cost for each service for the UTME, from the cost of obtaining the e-pins as reduced by the Federal Government to the cost of the reading texts and charges for registering candidates.
He explained that before commencing the 2019 UTME and Direct Entry (DE) registration, the guidelines on the exercise was deliberated and laid out for all CBT operators to adhere to strictly.
The JAMB spokesperson said: “Earlier, the Board reiterated the directive of the Federal Government for the 2019 e-pins to be sold at N3, 500 excluding the cost of the reading text, to ensure absolute compliance. The meeting had also resolved that the cost of registration should not exceed N700.
“Candidates were also to be guided properly on the processes, if for any reasons such assistance is required, without collecting any dime from them.
Unfortunately, findings from the Board’s monitoring exercise revealed that some centres were charging higher than the stipulated figure directed by the Federal Government and equally agreed on at the Lagos meeting for other charges.
“The Board finds this very disappointing and has therefore suspended such centres caught in this unholy act from the 2019 exercise.
“The Board is monitoring closely and about 10 centres are under investigation in Lagos and Plateau. Management would meet on Monday 28th January 2019 to take appropriate action on these centres.
“The Board will continue to monitor the ongoing exercise, to ensure that Nigerians are not misled by unpatriotic operators. JAMB monitoring teams are spread all over the nation and whoever is caught, would be punished in accordance with the precedence being laid now.
“All centre operators and selling outlets are advised to adhere to the Federal Government’s price of e-pins, cost of registration and not to sell any of the documents meant to be issued to candidates free.
“As a regulator, the Board would continue to protect the candidates to ensure that they are not misled, cheated or frustrated in their quest to acquire tertiary education.”
