JAMB Remits N5b To FG; Withholds 39,000 Results Over Malpractice, Verification

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Monday, May 13th, 2019

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board JAMB has announced it has remitted the sum of N5 billion to the Federal Government (FG) purse after the conduct of its 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The disclosure was made in the JAMB in the board’s weekly bulletin, signed by its Head of Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, Monday in Lagos State.

Dr. Benjamin told NAN in a telephone interview that the FG has returned N2 billion out of the N5 billion the board initially remitted to enhance its operations.

“The board returned N5 billion to the Federal Government, but out of that amount, the board was given N2 billion to further enhance its operations,” Dr. Benjamin said.

Meanwhile, some 2019 UTME candidates have alleged challenges in accessing their results through telephone as advised by the JAMB.

It would be recalled that the body released the results last Saturday and subsequently directed candidates to use the same telephone numbers they used in vending the pins for the examination registration documents to access their results by sending RESULT to – 55019.

However, JAMB confirmed that out of the 1.8 million candidates who registered for the examination, a total of 1,792,719 had their results released by the board.

It however withheld results of 34,120 candidates over alleged examination malpractice, while results of 15,145 candidates are undergoing further clarification, as in the case of identical twins and siblings.

A parent, Mrs. Bridget Otuagha, reportedly complained that his son had yet to receive his result despite many efforts.

“I am worried about this whole thing. My son has been trying to get his result since Saturday to no avail.

“He has been sending this RESULT to the said code, up until this morning, and there has been no response to that effect.

“JAMB should see if there is another way,” she pleaded.

Another concerned parent, Mrs Florence Ibem, also also complained that her son had the same issue.

“Since they released the results, we have not been able to access his score through the telephone number we used in acquiring the registration pin.

“After sending RESULT to the said code severally, there was still no result. This is disturbing and frustrating.

“Something should be done, and urgently too. Even if it is withheld or cancelled, I think we deserve to know,” she restated.

When contacted, Dr. Benjamin apologised to the affected candidates on behalf of the JAMB.

The board’s image maker said the challenge was from the service providers.

He added that the board had summoned the service providers for a meeting on the issue.

“We have just had a meeting with the service providers and they assured us that they are working hard to get the issue addressed. In no distant time, such candidates should be able to access their results without any hitch.

“We are just trying to ensure that all the candidates deserving of results should have first and information of their performances via their telephones.

“After that, we will post the results on our website for candidates to go ahead and print,” Dr. Benjamin added.