N’Assembly Criticizes JAMB’s Spending, Threatens Zero Allocation

[justseyi]

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance has expressed dissatisfaction with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over its financial management, accusing the agency of reckless spending and inadequate remittances to the Federal Government. Lawmakers have warned that JAMB may face a zero allocation for the 2025 fiscal year.

The concerns were raised on Monday during the 2025 budget defense session, where JAMB’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, appeared before the committee. The session, which reviewed the 2024 budget performance of government-owned enterprises, examined revenue generation, remittances, and expenditures.

Prof. Oloyede described JAMB as a revenue-generating agency, stating that it operates independently but also receives grants from the Federal Government. He revealed that JAMB remitted ₦4 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund while receiving a ₦6 billion grant in 2024.

This revelation drew criticism from the committee members, with the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Abiodun Faleke, questioning why JAMB needed government funding when it could retain its internally generated revenue.

“You remitted ₦4 billion and got ₦6 billion from the government. Why not keep the ₦4 billion and stop relying on federal allocations?” Faleke asked.

Prof. Oloyede struggled to justify the grant allocation, prompting further scrutiny from the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC). FRC Chairman Victor Murako noted that JAMB’s failure to submit an updated audited financial report since 2022 hindered the commission’s ability to assess its financial performance comprehensively.

Spending Under Fire
Committee members highlighted several spending irregularities in JAMB’s 2024 financial report. Amobi Ogah, representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Abia State, pointed out that JAMB, as a partially funded agency, is required to remit 40% of its internally generated revenue to the government. According to him, JAMB’s financial submissions showed a net liability of about ₦3.6 billion.

Ogah also questioned the agency’s reliance on “miscellaneous sources” for over ₦1.1 billion in projected revenue, demanding clarification on these figures.

Similarly, Senator Adams Oshiomhole criticized JAMB for its high expenditures on meals, refreshments, and other operational costs:

• ₦1.1 billion on meals and refreshments.
• ₦850 million on security, cleaning, and fumigation.
• ₦600 million on local travels.
• ₦6.5 billion on unspecified training programs.

“Spending ₦1.1 billion on meals is outrageous, especially considering that this money is generated from students, many of whom come from struggling backgrounds,” Oshiomhole said. He also questioned the need for ₦1 billion allocated for housing, referencing former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s monetization policy, which eliminated such government provisions.

Calls for Self-Funding
Several lawmakers called for an end to federal grants for JAMB, arguing that the agency generates sufficient revenue to sustain its operations. Mark Esset, representing Uyo/Urua Nsit/Atai Astan Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, said, “If JAMB can spend ₦1.1 billion on food alone, they should not require federal funding.”

Edo lawmaker Billy Osawaru accused Prof. Oloyede of attempting to mislead the committee by appearing without complete documentation.

Next Steps
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa, directed Prof. Oloyede to submit a detailed financial report to justify JAMB’s budgetary requests ahead of further deliberations.

With mounting scrutiny and demands for accountability, JAMB faces significant pressure to reform its financial practices or risk losing federal support entirely.

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