JAMB suspends UNIBEN CBT centre, eight others

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has suspended the University of Benin ICT Computer Based Test (CBT) centre and eight others from partaking in this year’s unified tertiary matriculation examination registration.

The board stated that the centres were suspended for breaching the code governing the 2019 registration exercise.

JAMB stated these in its weekly news bulletin obtained by The Nation yesterday in Abuja.

Its spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, also said the board was monitoring the activities of 10 more centres in Lagos and Plateau states, noting that appropriate action would be taken against them once investigation is concluded.

The suspended centres include: Mardakem Company Ltd., Methodist Boys High School, College Road, beside Maritime Academy, Oron, Akwa-Ibom State; Bintels Global Services Ltd (Centre for Computer Education), Fr. Joseph Memorial High Sch. Aguleri, Anambra State; Noble & Shuaib ICT Ltd, Girls Secondary School, Alor, Anambra State; and Global ICT Connect Ltd, Km 5, Gboko Rd, Opp College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi.

Others are: DA Civic Centre, 79 Airport Road by Benoni Junction, Benin city, Edo State; University Of Benin International ICT Centre, Iyayi Computer Building, Benin City, Edo State; Medes ICT Centre, Govt. Technical College, Idepe, Okitipupa, Ondo State; Divine Success All CBT Centre, Km1, Along Iseyin-Ibadan Express Way Iseyin, Oyo State; and Riyom ICT Centre, former Riyom Local Govt Secretariat, Riyom, Plateau State.

According to him, the board, during a meeting with CBT operators in Lagos, had spelt out the cost for each service for the UTME, from the cost of obtaining the e-pins as reduced by the Federal Government to the cost of the reading texts and charges for registering candidates.

He explained that before beginning the 2019 UTME and Direct Entry (DE) registration, the guidelines on the exercise was deliberated and laid out for all CBT operators to adhere to strictly.

“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 on at the Lagos meeting for other charges.

“The board finds this very disappointing and has therefore suspended such centres caught in this unholy act from the 2019 exercise.”