FOR charging more than the authorized amount, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has suspended nine Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres that breached the code governing the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration exercise.
The Board in its weekly bulletin released on Monday explained that the affected centres demanded higher fees than the amounts stipulated by the Federal Government.
It revealed that some of the centres among other offences were charging more than N7,000 for registration as against N3,500 authorized by the Federal Government while it also discovered payment of N50,000 by an unauthorised person to centre owner to have access to the portal.
According to the publication, the nine suspended centres are the University of Benin International ICT Centre, Iyayi, Benin, Edo State; Mardakem Limited by Methodist Boys High School, Oron, Akwa-Ibom State; Bintels Global Services, Aguleri, Anambra State; Noble and Shuaib ICT limited, Alor, Anambra State; Global ICT Connect, Makurdi, Benue State; DA Civic Centre, Benin City, Edo State; Medes ICT Centre, Okitipupa, Ondo State; Divine Success All CBT Centre, Iseyin, Oyo State; Riyom ICT Centre, Riyom Secretariat, Plateau State.
“Before commencing the 2019 UTME and Direct Entry registration exercise, a meeting with all CBT operators was convened in Lagos State, where the guidelines on the exercise were deliberated upon and laid out strictly for all to adhere to. The meeting had resolved that the cost of registration should not exceed N700,” JAMB said in the bulletin.
“Unfortunately, findings from the board’s monitoring exercise revealed that some centres were charging higher than the stipulated figure directed by the Federal Government and equally agreed at during the Lagos meeting.”
It further stated that 10 centres in Lagos and Plateau states were under investigation for the same offences, adding that it would convene a management meeting this week to take appropriate action on those centres.
On the number of candidates registered so far for the UTME, JAMB disclosed that a total of 869,709 candidates have been registered for the examination scheduled to hold in March.
According to the breakdown of the figure, Lagos State recorded the highest number of registered candidates, with 111,102 candidates, Kaduna State was second with 59,261 candidates and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, had 43,390 registered candidates.
Others are Oyo with 41,128 candidates; Benue, 36,080; Nasarawa, 35,940; Rivers, 35,749, and Ogun with 32,702 candidates.
The three states with the lowest registration are Jigawa, with 6,784 candidates; Sokoto, 4,881 and Zamfara, 2,427.
JAMB reiterated that the electronic pin issued to candidates are not transferable, adding that an optional mock examination for the candidates would take place on Saturday, February 23, at accredited CBT centres nationwide.