The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced plans to fully automate its services as part of efforts to prevent extortion and improve service delivery for candidates. The board’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, emphasized the importance of this move, particularly for underage candidates who take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
A bulletin released by JAMB on Monday noted that the automation aims to reduce physical interactions between candidates and JAMB officials. Prof. Oloyede stated that limiting contact would help curb instances of exploitation and extortion, with future interactions set to occur primarily online and calls recorded for quality control.
JAMB has reportedly received complaints about unethical practices, and a team has been deployed to investigate these claims. Oloyede called on candidates and parents to provide evidence of any extortion incidents, assuring that staff found guilty would face legal consequences.
Prof. Oloyede also praised the integrity of JAMB’s workforce, vouching for over 99 percent of the staff, but warned that any “bad eggs” would be identified and dealt with appropriately.
This move follows a recent lawsuit filed by businesswoman Mrs. Ifeanyi Eke against JAMB and others over inappropriate text messages sent to her 15-year-old daughter. JAMB had earlier taken action by arresting staff linked to this case, reinforcing the board’s commitment to tackling such issues.
