Ex-JAMB Boss Oloyede Looks Back on 10 Years, Talks Lower UTME Fees and Reforms

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The former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Is-haq Oloyede, has looked back on his ten years in office. He said the board became more transparent, used technology better, and was more accountable. They also improved staff welfare and lowered the cost of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Mr Oloyede spoke on Friday during the handover event to the new JAMB Registrar, Segun Aina, at the board's headquarters in Bwari, Abuja.

Mr Oloyede took office in August 2016 and finished his term before handing over to Mr Aina. He said his administration focused on five key areas: welfare, discipline, technology, transparency, and networking.

His predecessor, Dibu Ojerinde, was the registrar from 2007 to 2016. He is currently facing trial over several alleged corruption charges from his time in office.

In his farewell speech obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Oloyede said the board spent over N8 billion to boost employees' retirement savings. They also introduced a 13th-month salary and increased examination duty payments from 10 percent to 20 percent.

He added that JAMB provided free transportation and meals for some staff and helped employees with serious medical issues. “We also intervened in the medical treatment of staff, with a single staff member getting a sum of N12 million for his treatment at the National Hospital,” he said.

“We rewarded exceptional staff with cash and awards while we named a JAMB Zonal Office and a complex of PTC/PRCs after a staff member, demonstrating that hard work and resilience would not go unacknowledged.”

Though some welfare initiatives faced scrutiny from lawmakers, he said the board stayed committed to these programs. A motivated workforce is crucial to fulfilling their goals.

Mr Oloyede mentioned that JAMB reduced the cost of UTME application forms by 30 percent during his time. They also expanded support for candidates with disabilities by sponsoring them and their guides to exam centers and refunding their application fees.

He also revealed the introduction of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit (NATAPM) Award, which distributes about N750 million yearly to tertiary institutions.

Mr Oloyede said technology was key to the board’s transformation. He pointed out the growth of the Computer-Based Test (CBT), the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), biometric verification, CCTV surveillance, digital payment systems, and the Remote Authoring and Moderation System (RAMS) as major reforms during his time.

He noted that CAPS greatly improved transparency in the admissions process. It allows candidates to track admissions decisions and makes it harder to manipulate them.

Mr Oloyede added that JAMB now regularly publishes details of its activities, including spending, in its weekly JAMB Bulletin. “Transparency goes beyond the material, and it involves the admission process itself. With a system like CAPS, which is deemed revolutionary, admissions into our institutions are transparent, and anyone can question why a candidate is not admitted despite meriting it,” he said.

“The syndrome of ‘under-the-table’ admissions has been confined to antiquity. This brings relief to all stakeholders because the records would be clear to implicate anyone who circumvents laid-down procedure. I believe that transparency, which ensures honest, accurate, and accessible information is available, transforms institutions by eliminating toxic silos.”

Despite improving staff welfare, Mr Oloyede said the board kept a strict disciplinary culture throughout his tenure. He revealed that over 10 staff members were prosecuted for alleged misconduct, emphasizing that welfare cannot come at the cost of accountability.

While calling technology the backbone of JAMB's reforms, the former registrar acknowledged its limits. He remembered last year’s technical issue that affected the results of over 300,000 candidates. He said this showed that no technological system is perfect.

“What happened last year, which made me emotional, was proof that technology has its limits, just like everything human, and eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,” he said.

Mr Oloyede expressed his confidence that his successor would build on the progress made over the last decade. He said the institution now has a dedicated workforce, stronger systems, and a lasting culture of integrity.

“As I hand over the leadership of this great institution, I do so with absolute confidence in its future. The Board is blessed with a dedicated workforce, strong institutional systems, and an enduring culture of integrity,” he said.

He urged everyone to support the new registrar instead of focusing on his own achievements. “There is no success without a successor, and they should rather support and pray for Prof. Aina’s success at this point. It is time to face the future with renewed vigor.”