2019 election: Trust, confidence on Buhari by Nigerians not misplaced ― Minister

THE Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu has declared that the trust and confidence reposed on President Muhammadu Buhari by Nigerians, as demonstrated in his re-election for the second term, is not misplaced.

Adamu spoke during the weekend at the unveiling of the remodelled Headquarters of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), at Bwari, Abuja, where the Registrar of the board, Professor Ishaq Oloyede disclosed that the sum of N46 million was used to refurbish the building including construction of staff canteen.

The Minister said Nigerians would not regret renewing the mandate of President Buhari in 2019 general election, adding that what is required was for all Nigerians to give him the needed support to succeed in delivering on his mandate.

While stressing that the Buhari would consolidate on the gains of his first administration, Adamu said, “I, therefore, call on all Nigerians to give the President the required support to move the country to the Next Level.”

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He decried the rot in the education sector and pledged the support of the Federal Government to examination bodies to effectively confront syndicate perpetuating examination malpractices in the overall interest of the country.

The Minister who was represented by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, backed the board on the decision to further screen processes of the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) before the results were released last week.

He commended the current management JAMB for an unusual show of integrity in the management of the public business, saying the board has continued to be the flagship of the education sector in terms of transparent and honest service delivery.

Adamu noted that the outcome of the “painstaking effort” of the board at scrutinising the exercise has revealed that there was a lot of rot in the education system.

He said this was unfortunate as youths who are the hope of the country have been those engaged in examination fraud.

While stressing that the Federal Ministry of Education was in full support of JAMB’s reforms and innovations, Adamu directed all other public examination bodies to clean up their processes in order to eliminate examination malpractices.

Chairman, Governing Board, Dr Emmanuel Ndukwue, in his remark said the delay in the release of the 2019 UTME results was deliberate contrary to negative insinuations which were constantly in the media on a daily basis.

He said the management was not deterred insisting that the right thing must be done, adding that results released would pass integrity test anywhere in the world.

JAMB Registration, Prof Oloyede said the entire project, refurbishing of the old building, construction of a befitting staff canteen and foundation laying for the General Services Department Block, cost the board N46 million.

He said the innovation was to create a conducive environment for the staff, saying the welfare of workers must be uppermost in the attempt to reform the system.