We Spent almost N100m to conduct mop-up exam for 42,000 candidates –– Oloyede

The Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Is-haq Oloyede, has disclosed that yesterday’s mop-up exam conducted for the 42,000 candidates nationwide costs the board almost N100m.

Oloyede, who said this in one of the centres in Lagos, where the exam was held, said those shortlisted for the entrance exam were those who had verified technical issues, noting that majority of the candidates were those in the 10 centres who had their results cancelled due to examination malpractices.

He listed the 10 centres as follows – one each in Ebute Metta, Lagos; Benin, Edo State; Asaba, Delta State; five centres in Aba, Abia State; and two remaining centres in other eastern states.

Oloyede noted that the mop-up exam was re-conducted after the board investigated that there were few innocent candidates in those centres.

The registrar explained further that conducting the mop-up exam was not an indication of failure on their part, but, “For the fact that we are bending backward to accommodate those who might have had one problem or the other, is an indication of strength, and that we are going to be accountable to God. We are conscious of the fact that no matter how few, there are some genuine candidates.”

While responding to the question on whether it was necessary for the entrance exam to hold despite the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), he noted that it would be unfair to delay the entrance exam because of the industrial action in some universities, while more than half of the number of the universities owned by private people are not on strike.

He clarified that candidates’ results are still tenable no matter when universities resume academic session.

“For instance, if the University of Ibadan is on 2020/2021 session now, if they resume, they are going to start from there. Whoever is still waiting among their candidates, will still start 2020/2021 sessions. Unless the university on its own decided to cancel a session,” he added.

He, however, appealed to the academic unions and the Federal Government to resolve issues of contention delaying getting the students back to classrooms.