Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
The Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative (TADI), a civil society organization, has praised the reforms introduced by Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), to reposition the agency.
The organization denied allegations of corruption against the Registrar, claiming they were spread by “a few disgruntled members of the Board’s staff who want the old way to continue.”
In response to allegations made by its sister organization, Integrity and Transparency Watchdog, the TADI petitioned the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
However, in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, the organization stated that its independent investigation revealed that the allegations were false and that it had therefore decided to withdraw its petition against the Registrar.
“As a civil society organization with integrity as our watchword, we cannot continue to be complicit in the selfish motives of a few corrupt individuals in JAMB who want to return the Board to the old ways and are hell-bent on dragging a man of integrity into the mud,” TADI’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Comrade Adamu Matazu, said.
Matazu stated that the findings of the group demonstrated that Prof. Oloyede had exceeded expectations.
“We discovered that the man has delivered above and beyond expectations,” he said. His accomplishments over the last six years have been numerous. Prof. Oloyede’s management has blocked all corrupt channels, returning over N50 billion to the Federal Government’s coffers through prudent resource management.
“In his first year as president, he transferred N7.8 billion to the Treasury Single Account.” Prior to Prof. Oloyede’s appointment, the Board’s highest remittance in its 40-year history was less than N70 million.
“The examination’s credibility has improved as a result of the credibility he introduced in the process chains and the inclusivity.” The Board is now one of Africa’s most sought-after public examinations. The Board receives requests for collaboration from sister organizations to train their staff in new forms of public examination.
“Through the renewed image brought about by Prof. Oloyede’s innovations, the Board conducts qualifying examinations for several national and international organizations such as the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council for medical doctors who study abroad and want to practice in Nigeria, the West African College of Surgeons and the West African College of Physicians for different medical specialties, oil companies, the EFCC, and the Immigration Service.”
“The Prof. Oloyede-led administration has completely eliminated admissions corruption by implementing an automated admissions platform known as the central admission processing system (CAPS), which has eliminated all human interferences in the conduct of admissions exercises in all tertiary institutions.”
“He has built mega CBT centers across the country, complete with office space.”
“It is on this note that we will write and withdraw all previous petitions to anti-corruption agencies, as well as pass a vote of confidence in Prof. Is-haq Oloyede’s leadership.”
“We urge him to maintain the pace and not succumb to the evil machinations of those who are working hard to divert his attention away from the good work he has been doing.”
