I was shocked JAMB could generate N9b, says Oloyede

•’Finance minister expected N300m from board’

JOINT Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede yesterday declared that a sustained war against corruption and corrupt practices could free the nation’s resources for rapid investment and growth.

Oloyede said he was particularly shocked that the examination board could generate as much as N9 billion into the coffers of the Federal Government, an indication of how far the nation could go, if corruption tide is stemmed.

The JAMB Registrar spoke while delivering the 10th convocation lecture of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State.

Oloyede noted that when the then Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, called him on phone to say the board should be able to generate N200 million or N300 million, he said he was initially frightened because of the  past record of JAMB on remittance.

Speaking on the convocation lecture,  titled: “For whom much is expected, enough should be given: Making a case for Nigerian teacher”, he identified corruption as one strong impediment to having sufficient resources to move the country forward.

He said: “In terms of corruption, I have seen how very wicked we are against one another in this country. I don’t even respect many people with big cars because I have information about them.

“After my appointment, the Minister of Education called me and said from information available you should be able to generate N500 million for the Federal Government.

“The former Minister for Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who is also from Ogun State, also called me and said your office should be able to give us N300 million or N200 million. I was really wondering how this was going to work given the past record of JAMB.

“I am, however, surprised that JAMB had N9 billion left for the Federal Government. In fact, I could not sleep, I will again go and check to ensure there were no error anywhere. Look at what this huge amount will do to our economy.”

He said that informed why he was of the strongest view that the ongoing fight against corruption must be sustained and supported by Nigerians to get things working again in the country.

The former Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin described teachers in the country as the worst paid in the world, urging government at all levels to address the deficiency for greater efficiency and productivity.

He said: “Education is everything as without it, there is nothing. It appears evident that we may continue to drift on uncharted seas as long as society pay pittance to its moulders, the teachers. It is high time we paid attention to the goose that laid the golden eggs because for whom much is expected, enough should also be given.”

The university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, stated that the institution produced 2,723 graduands at the 10th convocation, including 256 postgraduate degrees in various disciplines.