BREAKING: JAMB totally cancels use of scratch cards

– JAMB has cancelled the use of scratch cards for any transaction

 – The board described the use of cards as archaic and old-fashioned 

– The decision is also as a result of fraudulent practices associated with scratch cards

Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has revealed that they have scrapped the use of scratch cards for any transactions and services. The reason given for the scrapping was that it was archaic and subject to fraud. 

On another note, the registrar, also demanded that the federal government should revert to the former system where serving vice chancellors of universities were made chairmen of the governing board of JAMB. Dr Fabian Benjamin the spokesperson for JAMB, said, the decision to scrap the use of scratch cards was announced by the registrar in Abuja in a paper he delivered during a meeting of the association of vice chancellors of Nigerian universities. 

In lieu of the scratch cards, the platform of pin vending will be used, in order to check all forms of fraudulent practices which was prevalent with the use of scratch cards.

“The decision is as a result of its consistent subjection to fraudulent practices, the use of scratch cards is archaic and it is the drive by JAMB to also promote accountability in line with government’s zero tolerance for corruption. “This new system will be accessible through the options of web payment, ATM issued cards (Visa, verve and Mastercard), online quick teller, ATM payment, quick teller mobile application and Bank Branch case/card,” he said. 

Speaking about the practice of using university vice chancellors as the chairmen of the governing board of JAMB, Oloyede appealed to the government that since the agency is a creation of the committee of vice chancellors, it would only be proper for them to be clearly recognised as active stakeholders to avoid any acrimony between tertiary institutions and JAMB. 

He said he believed that this would “engender good synergies and harmonious relationship with a view to effectively delivering on its mandates.” He concluded saying: “This practice which promoted harmony and quality inputs on the Board’s matriculation activities have since been forgotten or neglected. “The appointment of the chairman of the Board could be restricted to only heads of tertiary institutions in Nigeria perhaps in rotational basis among the vice chancellors of universities, rectors of polytechnics, monotechnics and provosts of colleges of education.” Meanwhile, the Nigerian Senate on Thursday, October 13, extended the validity period of the JAMB Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to three years against the present one year.