JAMB scraps use of scratch cards for its transactions, services

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation
Board, JAMB, has scrapped the use of scratch
cards for any of its services and transactions,
adding that it would now be using the
platform of pin vending to check all forms of
fraudulent practices which was prevalent with
the use of scratch cards.
A statement issued on Sunday by the
spokesperson of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin,
reports the board’s Registrar/Chief Executive,
Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, as declaring in a paper
he delivered during a meeting of the
Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian
Universities that the use of scratch cards is
“archaic”.
He also demanded that the Federal
Government should revert to the former
system where serving Vice Chancellors of
Universities were made chairmen of the
Governing Board of JAMB.
“The decision is as a result of its consistent
subjection to fraudulent practices, the use of
scratch cards is archaic and it is the drive by
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 said.
He further disclosed that in the past, the
understanding was that only serving Vice-
Chancellors were made chairmen of Governing
Board of JAMB.
While appealing that government should go
back to the practice from inception, the JAMB
Registrar argued that since the agency is a
creation of the Committee of Vice-
Chancellors, it would only be proper for them
to be clearly recognised as active
stakeholders to avoid any acrimony between
tertiary institutions and JAMB.
He was optimistic that going back to the old
practices would “engender good synergies
and harmonious relationship with a view to
effectively delivering on its mandates.”
Oloyede recalled that for almost two decades,
specifically between 1977 and 1993, only
serving Vice-Chancellors were made
Chairmen of the Board of JAMB, from Prof
Oladipo Akinkugbe, VC University of Ilorin;
Prof Donald E.U Ekong, VC University of Port
Harcourt; Prof Adamu Baike, VC University of
Benin; Prof Mahdi Adamu, VC University of
Sokoto and Prof Isa Mohammed, VC
University of Abuja.
He said, “This practice which promoted
harmony and quality inputs on the Board’s
matriculation activities have since been
forgotten or neglected. The appointment of
the chairman of the Board could be restricted
to only heads of tertiary institutions in
Nigeria perhaps in rotational basis among the
Vice-Chancellor of Universities, Rectors of
Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Provosts of
Colleges of Education.”