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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has suspended the University of Benin (UNIBEN) ICT center and eight other Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers for breaching the code governing the 2019 UTME registration exercise.
The board disclosed this on Monday in its weekly bulletin from the office of the Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede.
According to JAMB, the suspended centres demanded higher fees than the amounts stipulated by the Federal Government.
The nine suspended centers are:
- University of Benin International ICT Centre, Iyayi, Benin, Edo State
- Mardakem Limited by Methodist Boys High School, Oron, Akwa-Ibom State
- Bintels Global Services, Aguleri, Anambra State
- Noble and Shuaib ICT limited, Alor, Anambra State
- Global ICT Connect, Makurdi, Benue State
- DA Civic Centre, Benin City, Edo State
- Medes ICT Centre, Okitipupa, Ondo State
- Divine Success All CBT Centre, Iseyin, Oyo State
- Riyom ICT Centre, Riyom Secretariat, Plateau State.
According to JAMB, “before commencing the 2019 UTME and Direct Entry registration exercise, a meeting with all CBT operators was convened in Lagos State, where the guidelines on the exercise were deliberated upon and laid out strictly for all to adhere to. The meeting had resolved that the cost of registration should not exceed N700.
“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 at during the Lagos meeting”.
The board also explained that ten centers in Lagos and Plateau states are under investigation for the same offences, adding that it would convene a management meeting this week to take appropriate action on those centers.
Meanwhile, the board said it has registered 869,709 candidates for the 2019 UTME which is scheduled to hold between March 16 to March 23.
The breakdown of registration revealed that Lagos State has the highest number of registered candidates with 111,102, Kaduna State is second with 59,261 candidates while the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has 43,390 registered candidates
Others are Oyo, 41,128; Benue, 36,080; Nasarawa, 35,940; Rivers, 35,749 and Ogun with 32,702 candidates.
The three states with the lowest number of registered candidates are Jigawa; 6,784 candidates; Sokoto, 4,881 and Zamfara, 2,427 candidates.
JAMB reiterated that the electronic pin issued to candidates are not transferable, adding that an optional mock examination for the candidates will take place on February 23, at accredited CBT centers nationwide.