JAMB Is Exploiting Us, Cybercafé Operators Cry Out

 

Cybercafé operators in the country have urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly to examine the books of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, with a view to checking its alleged excesses and exploitation.

This came as The PUNCH investigations on Monday showed that the examination body realised over N56m as non-refundable caution fees from cybercafé operators participating in this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination e-registration exercise alone.

The board conducts the UTME for candidates seeking admission to the nation’s universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

This year’s Paper Pencil Test and Dual-Based Test will hold on April 5, while the

CBN Confirms The Payment Of The 200b By The Federal Govt.

CBN Confirms Universities N200b Account, As Okupe
Speaks About ‘Honourable Path’ For ASUU.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed that a sum of N200 billion agreed with the Academic Staff Union of Universities at a meeting with President
Goodluck Jonathan on November 5 has been fully paid into a Revitalization of Universities Infrastructure Account.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, disclosed this today in Abuja, where he made the CBN letter available to newsmen. Okupe did not, however, address the question of the signed statement being demanded by ASUU outlining the terms of their agreement.

A part of the stalemate is that in the past, the government has failed to implement agreements reached with the union, a mistake ASUU seems unwilling to repeat. In the letter signed by the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Lemo, and addressed to the Accountant General of the Federation, the apex bank confirmed that the total sum of N200 billion is the balance in the account, as required.

The Letter titled CONFIRMATION OF THE EXECUTION OF YOUR MANDATE FOR THE CREDIT OF ACCOUNT ON REVITALISATION
OF UNIVERSITIES INFRASTRUCTURE ACCOUNT indicates that the sum was paid in three tranches of 129,300,000,000,000k; 20,700,000,000,00k and
50,000,000,000,00k. While reiterating that the President is fully committed to the implementation of
agreements reached with ASUU, Okupe said a Needs Assessment Implementation Committee which has representatives of ASUU on board will be inaugurated tomorrow in order to fast track the utilization of the released funds and tackle infrastructure deficiency in the university system. According to the presidential aide, the government has received several representations from eminent Nigerians and stakeholders on the need to temper justice with mercy regarding the
ultimatum issued to the striking lecturers to resume work or face stiff sanctions.

“Government appreciates the fact that a number of universities have either resumed academic activities or
announced resumption dates in line with the directives earlier issued by the Committee of Pro Chancellors, ”Okupe said.

“We appreciate the