The National Assembly has expressed serious concerns over the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) expenditure of N1.95 billion on meals, refreshments, security, cleaning, and fumigation in 2024. The queries were raised during a joint committee session on revenue projections for 2025, led by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East).
JAMB’s Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, presented the board’s financial report, revealing that while JAMB remitted N4 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, it also received N6 billion from the Federal Government in the same year. This raised questions from lawmakers on why a self-sustaining agency required such substantial government funding.
Abiodun Faleke, Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, queried the rationale behind JAMB receiving N6 billion from the government despite its significant remittance. “Why not retain the N4 billion and avoid government funding?” he asked.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo) criticized JAMB for allocating N1.1 billion for meals and refreshments, emphasized that such funds come from students, many of whom face financial difficulties. He also challenged the board’s expenditure of N850 million on security, cleaning, and fumigation, alongside N600 million on local travel expenses.
Further scrutiny was directed at JAMB’s allocation of N6.5 billion for local training and N1 billion for a staff housing scheme. Lawmakers demanded a detailed breakdown of these expenditures, highlighting concerns over potential inefficiencies and mismanagement.
Senator Sani Musa underscored the broader issue of low remittances from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in 2024, which hampered the government’s ability to fund critical infrastructure and social services. He pointed out that the discrepancy between the revenues generated and the amounts remitted suggests inefficiencies and possible revenue leakages.
This interrogation followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presentation of the N49.7 trillion Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly in December 2024, with a proposed passage by January 31, 2025.
