News

Why Candidates Have To Pay Extra For 2024 UTME- JAMB Registrar

Published

2 years ago

December 20, 2023

Editor

Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Ishaq Oloyede, has explained that the extra money being paid by candidates was a charge by operators of Computer Based Test (CBT) centres to assuage the high cost of diesel.

This is as he denied that the examination body increased the fees for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for 2024.

He said JAMB only facilitated the process of collecting the payments so that candidates would not be exploited by the operators.

Prof Oloyede said these when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education at the National Assembly Complex on Wednesday.

The JAMB registrar also knocked some universities for overshooting the number of students approved to be admitted for a session.

This, he said, eventually causes problems for the students.

He promised to turn over the names of such institutions to the House Committee for further legislative action.

The Registrar also said the examination body was working to recover N4.2 billion owed by Zenith Bank over previous transactions.

He said the matter was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He said, “For the CBT centres, I also feel their pain because we also have about 45 of them owned by JAMB directly. We know what they are going through.

“The money is not paid by JAMB but the students themselves. You know N700 for registration and N700 for examination but given the cost of diesel this year, we only allowed them, not that we are paying them because we are collecting from the students and passing to the centres.

“This year we are about announcing. The advertisement is just coming out. We are going to allow them to charge as much as N1500 for UTME because of cost of diesel.

“But you can see the press in the past one week, that JAMB has increased the cost. What we have done is to allow to the CBT centres to charge more than they are charging. But because we are going to collect it for them, why are we collecting it is because if we leave them alone they will extort the students and they will be collecting N4000 or N5000. That is why we said pay to us and we would transfer it to you weekly.

“We have raised it from N700 to N1500 effective from 2024 so as to allow them to recoup. We have not increased JAMB fee. We only allowed this people to charge a better fee by adding to what they are charging but all the newspapers had reported it that we have increased the charges.

Also speaking on the approval given to higher institutions on the number of students to be admitted, he said most of them are admitting more than the approved number.

“We are ready to give you the names and you don’t need to go far. They are many of them around. It is general indiscipline. NUC gives the quota for universities, NBTE gives for polytechnics and NCC gives for Colleges of Education. But unfortunately some of these our people would go and, not only would they get more, they would not disclose the admission until candidates are ready to go on NYSC and they cannot go because without admission letter they can go.

“It is then they would talk about regularisation. How can you regularise what is not regular? So what we are saying is that you have admitted a candidate four years ago, we provided the data for Bureau of Statistics, now suddenly about one million emerged that were not registered at all and people would say it is JAMB who is holding them.

“We are holding them because they were not properly admitted. We would provide you a list of such people and you call them. Many of them would write letters of apology this year and they would still do it next year and they would write another letter of apology. You cannot kill them,” he said.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon Oboku Ofoji, urged the Board to reconcile its financial records with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

He said the interface with the examination body was not a witch-hunt.

He said it was an effort to improve the educational sector in the country.

“I want to also clear one wrong impression that it is a witch-hunt. This job is about our country and educational sector. so for us to intergface with you and you see all the national television here, to me I was thinking that jamb would appreciate this conversation openly. It goes a long way to inform Nigerians how prepared JAMB is. We all owe Nigerians explanations about our stewardship,” he said.

News

Okpebholo Announces ‘Massive’ Youth Recruitment Into Edo Civil Service

Published

5 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Editor

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has announced plans to recruit youths into the state civil service.

Speaking at the All Progressives Congress campaign rally in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area, ahead of the August 16, 2025, Edo Central Senatorial by-election, the governor said it’s part of his administration’s effort to combat unemployment and accelerate Edo’s development.

He expressed his passion for his people and an unwavering commitment to building a better future.

Unveiling his new civil service recruitment plan, the governor disclosed that he had instructed the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, to begin the process without delay.

“We are going to massively employ our young people,” he affirmed. “Creating opportunities for our youths is the greatest investment we can make for the future of Edo.”

News

Edo Govt To Open Up Riverine Communities For Development — Deputy Gov

Published

5 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Editor

The deputy governor of Edo state, Hon Dennis Idahosa, has said that the Monday Okpebholo-led administration will open up riverine communities in the state for sustainable development.

According to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Friday Aghedo, Idahosa stated this at Inikorogha in Ovia South West Local Government Area of the state during the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally for Saturday’s Ovia Federal Constituency by-election.

He told the gathering that the new administration led by Okpebholo is keen to see development across the nook and cranny of the state.

He said all that was needed from the people was support and for them to be patient with the nine month old government that hit the ground running immediately after inauguration.

Idahosa described the Inikorogha community as a peace loving people that had always supported him politically and otherwise.

The deputy, who was adorned by the community in their traditional regalia said, “I have always seen myself as one of your own even before your acceptance of me with this traditional attire.”

“All I need from you is massive votes in support for the APC candidate and our governor on Saturday,” he appealed.

He assured the community that the APC candidate is going to continue with the good work he put up as the representative before his election as deputy governor.

“Our candidate, Omosede Igbinedion, is not a neophyte in the business of lawmaking. The party chose her because we are sure of her capacity to deliver.”

While addressing the people, the APC candidate promised to synergise with the deputy governor to bring laudable projects to Ovia federal constituency.

Simirlarly, a chieftain of the party in the community, Ambassador Okubo Robert promised delivery of 100 percent votes for the party.

He noted that the Inikorogha community had always supported the APC in every elections, adding that Saturday’s bye-election will not be any different.

News

How Terrorist Leader, Abubakar Abba, Was arrested – Niger Govt

Published

7 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Editor

The Niger State Government has revealed how terrorist leader, Abubakar Abba, was arrested by the Department of State Service in the state.

Abba was the leader of the Mahmuda terror groups, which pitched its tent and operated in Niger and Kwara states.

He was captured in Wawa, the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

Governor Mohammed Bago’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, on Wednesday announced Abba’s arrest in a statement in which he said the terror kingpin had been moved to the nation’s capital, Abuja, for further investigation.

“Yes, it is true. I can confirm that the leader of Mahmuda, which is one of the most dangerous terror groups in West Africa, Abubakar Abba, has been arrested by the DSS.

“He was apprehended alive through an intelligence-led operation by the DSS.

“This is a huge victory for us as a people and as a government, and President Tinubu deserves commendation for this cheering news.

“Abba’s arrest demonstrates the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to truly ending insecurity and promoting the well-being of Nigerians,” Ibrahim said.

Mahmuda, an offshoot of the deadly Boko Haram terror group, was also believed to have ties with the Islamic State and was responsible for a series of attacks across Kwara and Niger states.

The terror group had reportedly launched two attacks in one day in Kwara state on June 3—first killing three villagers in the morning and then four more in the evening, and leaving the community in mourning.

Mahmuda’s foot soldiers, usually clad in camouflage and often riding on motorcycles, continued their rampage, with at least three villagers killed in a fresh assault.

This indicated the group’s sustained threat.

A recent large-scale attack in Kwara reportedly resulted in the killing of seven residents, while several others were abducted.

The terror group had also reportedly struck numerous villages near Kainji Lake National Park while a market in Kwara was also attacked, killing four Fulani men, a local guard, and a 19-year-old bystander.

Another attack killed 15 vigilantes in Kemanji village.

The Mahmuda terror group reportedly established bases in forested areas linking Niger, Nasarawa, Kwara, and Kogi states.

It carried out activities including illegal mining, forced labour and extortion of herders and farmers.

Meanwhile, the Niger State governor has applauded the DSS operation as a strong demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the safety and welfare of Nigerians.