The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has commended the Registrar, Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, for his sincerity, empathy and for what was described as responsible leadership, for acknowledging and taking responsibility for the errors witnessed in the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
COEASU President, Dr. Smart Olugbeko in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, noted that although the errors have caused significant emotional trauma to the students and their parents, the manner in which the JAMB Registrar handled the crisis was a rare quality amongst public officers that was worthy of emulation.
According to him, it was also worthy of note that JAMB has made significant strides in recent years, leveraging technology to enhance the examination process.
He said: “However, the recent errors highlight the limitations of technology and the need for diligence and care in its deployment. For instance, the Nigerian Army’s efforts to combat terrorism have sometimes resulted in unintended harm to civilians, underscoring the importance of caution when utilizing technology.
“COEASU commends the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, for his sincerity and empathy in acknowledging the errors and taking responsibility. This is a rare quality among public officers, and we appreciate his commitment to finding solutions.
“In contrast, some public officials have been known to deny responsibility for their actions, even when faced with overwhelming evidence. A notable example is the deployment of the integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which was widely criticized for its corruption and inefficiencies. Despite its flaws, the proponents of IPPIS refused to acknowledge its shortcomings.
“The IPPIS debacle highlights the importance of accountability and transparency in public service. Unlike Professor Oloyede, the proponents of IPPIS have refused to apologize for the harm caused to tertiary institutions or adopt the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) developed by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which has proved to be a more reliable and efficient platform.
“Fortunately, the present government took a bold step by removing tertiary institutions from the IPPIS platform and migrating them to the Government integrated Financial Management Information System (GFMIS) platform. However, it is disturbing to note that those who benefit from the IPPIS malady have ensured that the GFMIS platform remains tied to the IPPIS system, resulting in continued unwarranted salary delays for tertiary institution staff.
“This lack of accountability is not limited to the IPPIS debacle. Many public officers who have ruined Nigeria’s economy and contributed to the insecurity plaguing the country today shamelessly collect awards for good governance and even have the audacity to teach others how to govern the country. We call on these individuals to take a cue from Professor Oloyede’s example and own up to their errors.
“COEASU applauds Professor Oloyede’s commitment to integrity and accountability. His leadership sets a positive example for public servants, and we hope that his approach will be emulated by others.”
Olugbeko urged JAMB to make its review “holistic in order to ensure all candidates affected by the glitch in every part of the country are allowed to participate in the resit examination while deploying adequate measures to prevent reoccurence of the error.”
