The Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), JAMB chapter, have dismissed claims made by a former deputy director, Yisa Usman, regarding his alleged unlawful dismissal, labeling them as unfounded and misleading.
Usman had filed a ₦150 million lawsuit against the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), alleging wrongful termination. However, in a joint statement issued on Monday by NASU Branch Chairman, Comrade Andrew O. Onakpa, and ASCSN Branch Chairman, Comrade Ebenezer O. Ayelabola, the unions stated that Usman’s claims were an attempt to tarnish the Board’s reputation and undermine its welfare initiatives.
Union’s Response to Allegations
The unions rejected Usman’s allegations of financial mismanagement, stating that:
- Payment Process Before and After TSA: The unions challenged Usman to explain how staff, including himself, received payments before 2016, noting that with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) implementation, all payments were made directly into staff personal accounts.
- JAMB’s Status as a GOE: They clarified that JAMB was designated as a Government-Owned Enterprise (GOE) by the Federal Government, not through self-declaration, as Usman alleged.
- Staff Welfare and Housing Scheme: The unions defended JAMB’s housing scheme, emphasizing that government regulations do not prohibit initiatives aimed at individual home acquisition through grants and loans.
Investigations Clearing JAMB
The unions highlighted that Usman had petitioned various government agencies, all of which cleared JAMB of any misconduct. These agencies include:
- Office of the Immediate Past Vice-President of Nigeria
- Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP)
- Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
- Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA) of the Federal Ministry of Finance
- Federal Ministry of Education
- Accountant General of the Federation
- Auditor General of the Federation
Each of these investigations concluded that JAMB had acted in compliance with regulations.
Call for JAMB to Remain Focused
The unions criticized Usman for disregarding the findings of these investigations and attempting to discredit JAMB and the agencies involved.
They urged JAMB management to remain focused on its mission and ignore what they described as a baseless smear campaign against the Board’s leadership.