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Tag: JAMB

  • Buhari orders probe of past JAMB, NIMASA heads over ‘meagre’ revenue remittance

    The Federal Executive Council during its meeting on Wednesday presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the forensic probe of some government agencies.

    The exercise is to recover unremitted revenues, according to Minister of Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    With Mrs Adeosun were Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Adamu, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

    According to her, some of the government agencies suspected to be diverting government revenues will be made to account for the past revenues.

    She said the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which had been remitting N3 million annually, remitted N5 billion this year alone and disclosed that it had N3 billion more to remit to the government’s purse this year.

    The minister also listed past management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) among the offenders.

    She said: “Secondly, we spoke about revenue generation. The VAIDS Programme is ongoing and we are having quite a positive response in terms of tax compliance.

    “We also reported on the progress made by a number of our agencies some of whom have reported very significant increases in the amount paid into the consolidated revenue fund.

    “Council discussed JAMB, which recorded significant progress and NIMASA as well as others and gave us the charge to really go and look at these agencies, look in some cases the past management of those agencies and see where those agencies were leaking and to encourage agencies that haven’t done so to continue with efficiencies,” she said.

    Asked to disclose the figures expected from the agencies, Mrs Adeosun said: “The highest amount that JAMB has ever remitted to the consolidated revenue fund before this management was N3 million. This year, so far, they have done N5 billion and the Minister of Education reported that they have additional N3 billion that they are ready to remit, which will take this year’s figure alone to N8 billion.

    “Now they have not increased their charges nor their fees. So the question that Council members were asking was that where were all these monies before?

    “So the directive was given that we must call those who were the heads of those agencies and similar ones to account and that is what we intend to do.”

    She added: “It’s a similar story with other agencies and these are the leakages which we are now blocking. These are the monies in the consolidated fund that is now being applied in the projects that really need to get the economy moving. These are the monies that are missing that has led us to the position we are in. It is the grandest looting that this administration action has come in to address.”

    The minister also disclosed that FEC approved for Nigeria to rejoin the African Trade Insurance Agency.

    She said: “This is an agency that is out to provide risk guarantee for private investors coming into Nigeria as well as exporters from Nigeria.

    “It will provide risk guarantees, so instead of projects asking for sovereign guarantees, we will be able to provide that risk mitigation through the African Trade Insurance Agency. Many other countries are already members, so Nigeria will also be joining.

    “This agency has an A rating international and is able to guarantee long term projects. So, what we see as a result of this is that there will be increased level of investments particularly PPP where every often the investors want some guarantee from the government. Instead of the government issuing sovereign guarantee directly, this agency will step in and issue it. It is very similar to MIGA, the Multi-lateral Insurance Guarantee Agency that is owned by the IFC.”

    She went on “My second activity was part of the briefing on the economy and to speak to the fiscal conditions and outlook.

    “As you know, we are on the part way of resetting the economy and adjusting permanently to a sort of lower oil pricing.

    “The recent announcement of the exit from recession we see as statically backed indicator that we are moving in the right direction.

    “We recognised that there is a lot to be done. I briefed the council on various fiscal initiatives that we are pursuing. These include continued fiscal consolidation and cost efficiency, driving cost savings in government; there is still a great need to do so.

    “I have some progress report on the work we have done with payroll where we are still seeing contraction. Every time we put agencies into our automated payroll system we see contraction and we intend to continue with that.

    “So, in summary, the outlook is positive. We did some comparative analysis in June 2014 with oil price of $109, federation allocation was N844 billion and in June 2017 it was down to N318 billion, just to give you an idea of how much income the country has really lost in the last few years.

    “So, we are adjusting very strongly and we believe if we continue with this trajectory not only will we stay permanently out of recession but, more importantly, we will have a positive and growing economy what works for all Nigerians which is our aim.” she said

    Udoma Udo Udoma said his ministry briefed the Council on the recent 2017 Second Quarterly Report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    He said: “We were encouraged by the GDP growth rates. The report is very encouraging for the government as it shows that we are on the right direction.”

    The Minister of Water Resources disclosed that he briefed FEC on floods and possible threats of flood.

    He said there was no threat of flood in the country.

    The Ministry has observatory units in Niamey and Lokoja, he said, adding: “If there is any indication of significant rise or threat to lives and properties, we will promptly issue warning alerts.

    “For now, there is no cause for alarm. We cannot stop the flood but we can provide early warnings.”

  • Registration for direct entry admission ends Sept 15 – JAMB

    The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it will shut down its Direct Entry admission e-registration portal on Sept.15.

    Head of Media and Information of the board, Dr Fabian Benjaminsaid this in an interview with newsmen in an interview in Abuja on Friday.

    Benjamin urged the prospective candidates for the direct entry admission to register before the deadline, saying that the board might not extend the deadline.

    He also advised the UTME candidates to re-upload their O’ Level results in the JAMB new portal as the one previously used did not allow for the capturing of candidates O’ Level grades.

    He further said that the candidates should use JAMB’s approved Computer Based Test (CBT) centres for the exercise.

    According to him, the new portal has provided a platform for the detailed categories of West African Examination (WAEC) results of candidates for proper placement.

    “The first platform that was used for the exercise did not create room for the capturing of the levels of grades such as C4, C5, C6, B1, B2, B3 and A1.

    “You know in some schools, all these O’ level grades are considered.

    “You may have a B1 and another candidate has a B3. If there is no room for separating the grades in the platform, schools may not be able to ascertain the levels of grades.

    “The first platform just stated “A”, “B”, “C”. So with this new platform, there will be room for the download of the levels of grades.

    “Somebody who has a B1 will stand a better chance than the person with a B3.

    “So, we use this new platform to capture all those detailed categories of WAEC result so that no grade of result will be left uploaded.’’

    Benjamin, however, added that any candidate who felt that what he or she uploaded earlier was enough might not bother.

     

     

    NAN

  • JAMB defends 120 cut-off mark, says ‘Varsities free to admit with higher scores’

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has defended the pegging of 120 as minimum cut-off marks for university admission.

    The decision, which was reached at a stakeholders’ policy meeting in Abuja, has generated controversy with many universities rejecting the marks.

    JAMB’s Head of Information Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said the board would not be deterred and would continue to support policies that would bring Nigeria’s education out of the woods.

    He explained that previous cut off marks were never strictly followed by most institutions.

    Dr. Benjamin said most universities failed to fill their admission quota in the last 10 years.

    The statement reads: “The much trending controversy over the just released cut off marks for 2017 admission exercise by stakeholders at the policy meeting is quite unnecessary.

    “All Heads of tertiary institutions were requested to submit their cut off benchmark to the board which will then be used for the admission. And these benchmarks once determined cannot be changed in the middle of admission exercise.

    “Again, it is necessary to explain that the 120 mark does not in any way suggest that once you have 120 then admission is sure for you. Institutions will admit from the top to the least mark.

    “We are now starting the actually monitoring of adherence to admissions guide lines, cut off marks inclusive. The cut off marks being branded by the public as previous cut off marks were never strictly followed by most institutions.

    “The board will equally ensure that it correct all anomalies existing, especially as regards the powers of institutions to make pronouncements on admissions and other related matters affecting the institutions.”

    According to him, institutions in the past went behind to admit candidates with less cut-off marks, while also accusing some institutions of admitting candidates without JAMB results.

    “Institutions were going behind to admit candidates with far less with others admitting candidates who never sat for JAMB. This act to say the least is very distasteful and damaging to our national data and identity.

    “Unfortunately, the public has been kept away from this fact for such a long time and now that we are saying it the way it is and working to address it, the public is criticising us using non existing parameters that were only announced and not followed.

    “In years past, admissions were done with worst cut off marks. We are determined and ready to correct all these with the 2017 exercise. The Board has designed a Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) to check back door admission and other unwholesome practices associated with admission.

    “We are sure that the system will bring out the good in us as it will also make provision for candidates to track their admission. This empowers them to raise queries if a candidate they have better scores and other prerequisites are admitted which CAPS will not allow anyway. This is the inclusiveness and transparency that education needs,” he added.

     

  • JAMB commences admission processes for 2017/2018 Sept.15

    The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, says the admission processes for 2017/2018 will commence on Sept.15 and close on Jan.31, 2018.

    The Head of JAMB Information and Media, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria in Bwari, Abuja, on Friday.

    Benjamin said that the direct entry applications for admission would close Sept. 15.

    He explained that students could only secure admission after they might have passed through the rudiments of admission processes.

    “We have come up with Central Admission Processing System this year.

    “This entails that once candidates are admitted and the institution approves, then JAMB will approve, the information about the candidates will be keyed into CAPS automatically.

    “Candidates can monitor their admission process through CAPS online and those who want to get admission letter can do so by printing such online.’’

    According to him, CAPS will make record gathering easy and give easy access to students to print their admission letters among other things.

    “What we are trying to do now is that we are looking at the perimeter realistically; we decided to come up with new strategy aimed at ensuring the actual data.”

     

    NAN

  • NANS protests, rejects JAMB’s 120 admission cut-off mark

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected the cut-off points for admission into tertiary institutions, describing the reduction as a gross misplacement of priority and exercise in futility.

    NANS Vice President Olamide Odumosu, spoke at a protest by the group at the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Bwari, on Thursday.

    Odumosu said that the reduction in the cut-off points would only lead to corruption as well as worsen the level of academic performance of students.

    He added that NANS had supported the present administration in its fight against corruption, but the recent development was an act of exploitation on Nigerian students.

    “JAMB in conjunction with Vice Chancellors and Provosts is exploiting Nigerian students, thereby reducing the level of education in the country.

    “JAMB giving us 120 as a cut-off mark for Nigeria universities is a slap to our country.”

    Odumosu added that the association would mobilise students across the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to stage a protest if nothing was done to all of their plights.

    Also, Idowu Odebunmi, National Public Relations Officer of the association, accused the board of conniving with Vice Chancellors in bastardising the standards of Nigerian education.

    Ajayi also said that the increment in the regularisation fees by the board from N5,000 to N10,000 should be reviewed.

    Inscriptions like: ‘‘NANS say no to 120 cut-off marks,’ ‘say no to corruption in our education sector,’ ‘say no to post UTME fraud,’’ were written on the placards carried by the group.

    Meanwhile, the National President of the association, Chinonso Obasi has condemned the cut-off marks reduction by JAMB and stakeholders.

    Obasi, in a statement, said the review from 180 for universities and 165 polytechnics, now 120 and 100, respectively was uncalled for.

    According to him, knowledge acquisition is a function of determination and hard work.

    “And so, if over the years, students were able to work hard to meet cut-off points, it doesn’t make any logical sense to now lower the standard.”

    He added that the inability of any student to meet the cut-off points was a function of outright indolence that should not be encouraged.

    According to him, the general phenomenon is that Nigerian graduates are not employable, lowering of standard will translate to a disastrous outcome in the future by churning out young people, who cannot fit into the labour demands and expectations of the 21st century.

    “Nigerian youths are intelligent and willing to learn because of the enabling environment provided by tertiary institutions abroad.

    “The 21st century is driven by innovation and competitiveness.

    “So, lowering the entering level into tertiary institutions will further contribute to reducing the productivity and peak performance of young people seeking admission into the country’s higher institutions of learning.”

    He, however, said that the challenge of the tertiary institutions in Nigeria was not in the prospects of entering, but largely dependent on the numerous challenges within the various institutions.

    Obasi decried the high level of inconsistencies in policy formulation and implementation in the educational sector.

    He called on government to mainstream and benchmark global best practices in educational policy formulation and implementation.

    He said that as critical stakeholders in the educational sector, the student body would vehemently resist the review.

    Obasi urged government to maintain status quo and endeavour to conduct a comparative study and analysis of policies from other climes that supports functional learning.

    However, Dr Yusuf Lawal, Director of Test Administration of the board, while addressing the group, said JAMB was ready to look at some of the issues.

    Lawal explained that the cut-off marks were unanimously decided by stakeholders at its policy meeting on Aug. 22 in Abuja.

    He added that JAMB would put some of the issues on a roundtable on re-engineering to reduce some of the cost in admission fees.

    “For the cut-off point, JAMB is a clearing house for tertiary institutions. The set up of the board is not to take over process or mandate of the tertiary institutions.

    “It was the tertiary institutions that met and that we should not dissipate energy on publicity, multiplicity of exam and multiplicity of admission.

    “We are already looking at how we can reduce application fee of the coming year,” he said.

    Lawal, however, said that it was not mandatory that everybody who scored 120 would be given admission but rather admission would be dependent on available courses in the tertiary institutions.

    JAMB had on Aug. 22 reduced university cut-off to 120, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education to 100 at a policy meeting with the Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts of higher institutions in the country.

    NAN reports that Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, Registrar, JAMB, had at the policy meeting of the stakeholders of tertiary institutions in Abuja disclosed the reduction of cut off mark to 120.

  • Over one million UTME candidates scored below 200 – JAMB

    Over one million UTME candidates scored below 200 – JAMB

    Joint Admission and Matriculation Board on Tuesday said 569,395 of the 1.7 million candidates that wrote this year’s UTME scored over 200 marks.

    The Registrar, JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, disclosed this at the policy meeting of the stakeholders of Tertiary Institutions in Abuja.

    He said 23.8 per cent of the total number of the candidates scored below 160 marks.

    He said the stakeholders unanimously agreed that the minimum cut-off mark for the university degree is to stand at 120.

    The stakeholders, according to him, peg that of Polytechnic to be 100, College of Education 100, while National Innovative Enterprise Institution remained at 110 marks.

    The registrar said the timelines for admission of first choice was October 15, while second choice would be December 15.

    Oloyede urged the heads of the various tertiary institutions to set their modalities for admissions exercises as it was not the board’s responsibility.

    He said that no candidate without O’ Level prerequisite would be offered admission.

    “JAMB has a Central Admissions Processing System to aid you on the admission exercises.

    “CAPS will not replace admission processes of institutions. It will enable institutions to simply communicate with JAMB in a more dynamic and timely manner.

    “It will also allow for flexible cut-off marks and candidates are allowed to make their choice of institution and course,’’ he said.

    The registrar, however, appealed to heads of institutions not to charge more than N2,000 for admissions’ processes.

    In his remark, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, commended the board for conducting the UTME.

    According to him, the stakeholders have worked together to create synergy for the advancement of education in the country.

    “We restate our commitment to ensuring expansion of access to students in our institutions

    “To ensure equity in regard to rural and urban areas; we are committed to refocusing our curricula to meet our development need,’’ he said.

    Adamu, however, advised heads of institutions to accommodate qualified candidates in the most transparent and flexible manner.

    The meeting was attended by stakeholders in both public and private tertiary institutions.

  • JUST IN: JAMB, VCs peg university admission cut-off mark at 120

    The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board and Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, on Tuesday, pegged the minimum cut-off mark for admission into universities at 120.

    JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, disclosed this at a combined policy meeting on admissions into universities, polytechnics and other higher institutions in Nigeria, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

     

    Read further details here…

  • JAMB to determine admission cut-off mark next week

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), on Sunday announced that it would hold its Policy Committee meeting next week Monday and Tuesday to determine the cut-off point for the 2017 admission.

    The agency made the announcement in a statement on Sunday issued by its Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in Abuja.

    ‎Dr. Benjamin said the meeting approved by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu would kick start the 2017 admission exercise.

    According to him, the policy committee would announced the cut off point for the 2017 admission exercise.

    “‎The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has obtained the approval of the Hon Minister of Education to hold the Policy Committee meeting on 2017 admission.

    “The meeting is scheduled to hold on Monday 21st to Tuesday 22nd August, 2017. This meeting will kick start the 2017 admission exercise. The policy committee would announced the cut off point for the 2017 admission exercise.

    “All stakeholders including Vice Chancellors of Universities, Rectors of Polytechnics and Monotechnics and Provosts of Colleges of Education would be in attendance.”

    Benjami said the board has sent a soft copy of printout of candidates to all institutions chosen by candidates.

    “This year the Board has sent candidates who scored 100 and above in their JAMB to the institutions in its flexible admission policy for institutions to determine the suitability of the candidates in compliance with all laid down rules and regulations as determined by the propriators of the institutions and approved by Senate of the various schools.

    “The Board will ensure that criterion set by Senate are strictly adhere to by the institutions admission officers and no shifting of goal post in the middle of the admission exercise. This is to guarantee fairness and equity to all candidates,” the statement added.

    He also said the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, at the foundation laying ceremony for a 500 capacity twin CBT centre in Osogbo, Osun State advised all computer based test (CBT) centre owners to ensure that their centres are up to date as the board would not compromise on the 2018 accreditation exercise.

    He said having suitable centres was the bedrock of conducting a smooth examination.

    “The 500 capacity twin CBTcentre built by NCC in compliance with presidential directive for NCC to build such centre in each senatorial district is to bring the centres closer to the candidates and also ensure standard.

    “The Registrar urge the consultant to ensure that the centre is built according to specification,” the statement added.

     

  • We remitted over N5bn to FG’s coffers in less than 6 months – JAMB

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has said it remitted over N5 billion to the federal government’s coffers in 2017 alone, saying that was the highest ever in the 40 years of its existence.

    The body also noted that it will not condone multiple registrations for Direct Entry and Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

    A statement signed by JAMB’s Head of Public Relations, Fabian Benjamin, said in Abuja on Sunday.

    Mr. Benjamin described the act of multiple registrations as a serious offence in the process of obtaining the Board’s application forms presently on sale.

    He said that the warning had become imperative for people to know and understand that violation of such rule would attract sanctions.

    “Candidates are to note that our advertisement for 2017 UTME clearly states the penalty for any candidate caught buying two forms.

    “Members of the public are requested to note that any candidate who indulges in double registration will be caught by our software and disqualified.

    “The Board is not interested in the candidates’ money as is being insinuated by a certain group who suggested to the Board that such registration will enhance the revenue base of the Board.

    “No, we are more interested in the credibility of the examination and not the money, if money is our concern we will not be returning over five billion naira to the Federal Government coffers.’’

    Mr. Benjamin said this year, the board had so far remitted more than N5 billion to the government, the highest ever in the 40 years of its existence.

    He said that the money was saved through the transparent and judicious use of resources.

    Mr. Benjamin urged candidates to disregard all information on admission, especially cut-off marks being circulated on the net.

    According to him, the Board has established a new method of admission in line with its mandate to ensure fairness irrespective of tribe and religion and it is determined to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

    The JAMB public relations officer said that the Board had held consultations with universities across the country to enable candidates to meet the requirement and secure admission without the assistance of anybody.

    According to him, no cut-off mark has been arrived at as this can only be done at a policy meeting, which is at the moment yet to be conveyed.

    “Do not allow yourselves to be defrauded by internet fraudsters, the policy meeting would commence the 2017 admission with all mode, process and acceptable conditions for admission.

    “The Prof. Oloyede led management is working to ensure transparent, acceptable and fair admission process.

    “We have designed software known as Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), where human interference will be completely removed, to promote credibility.

    “The admission criteria would be keyed into the software and it will select candidates blindly according to the institution’s requirement without any primordial consideration.”

     

     

    (NAN)

  • Digital skills: FG sets up multi-million naira training centre for IDPs in Abuja

    Digital skills: FG sets up multi-million naira training centre for IDPs in Abuja

    …set to equip IDPs with digital skill

    …awards scholarship to 300 IDPs

    All is now set for the federal government to equip Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) with necessary digital skills as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has set up a multi-million naira training centre for IDPs in Abuja.

    The NITDA says the multi-million naira Digital Capacity Building Centre for training of IDPs is located at the Praxis Catholic e-School for IDPs in Abuja.

    The Chief Executive of the school, Mr. Ben Onwudinjo made the disclosure in a statement made available to TheNewsGuru on Monday.

    According to Onwudinjo, NITDA Director-General, Dr Isa Pantani set up the centre at the school as part of the agency’s mandate of corporate social responsibility.

    He said that the school had awarded scholarship to 300 IDP students drawn from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states to support the Presidential Committee on Northeast Initiative (PCNI).

    Onwudinjo said that the centre, equipped with e-learning facilities would empower IDPs in Abuja and its environs in the area of ICT to make them self-reliant.

    “The digital capacity building centre is being used to equally provide free ICT training for students preparing for Universities Matriculation Examination computer based test in Abuja and its environs.

    “It will also assist other Nigerians interested in acquiring knowledge in all areas of information and communication technology to boost the quality of education for national development,” he said.

    Onwudinjo explained that the gesture by the NITDA Director-General would not only bridge the knowledge gap of the IDP, it would also help to support the efforts of the PCNI at rebuilding the Northeast.

    He said, “The gesture has also given boost to the efforts of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) towards its computer based test.

    “It has totally eradicated the ignorance earlier associated with the use of ICT during the exams by providing free training facilities for interested candidates.

    Onwudinjo commended the NITDA Director-General for his kind gesture and assured him of judicious use of the digital capacity learning centre.