Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) has lambasted the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its 2024 expenditures, including a staggering N1.1 billion spent on meals and refreshments. During JAMB’s 2025 budget defense before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance, Oshiomhole raised questions about the agency’s financial practices and its reliance on government funding despite significant revenue generation.
Questions Over Excessive Spending
Oshiomhole, a former Governor of Edo State, scrutinized JAMB’s spending on various items, including:
- N1.1 billion on meals and refreshments.
- N850 million on security, cleaning, and fumigation.
- N600 million on local travel.
He criticized the agency for spending funds collected from examination fees, which are predominantly paid by students, many of whom come from poor backgrounds.
“You spent N1.1 billion on meals and refreshments. Are you being freely fed by the government? What this means is that you are spending the money you generate from poor students, many of them orphans,” Oshiomhole said.
Regarding the N850 million spent on fumigation, Oshiomhole questioned, “What did you fumigate? Is it mosquitoes that took all this money?”
He further demanded an explanation for the N600 million allocated to local travel expenses.
Revenue and Federal Funding Debate
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed that the board generated N22.9 billion in revenue in 2024, remitted N6 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and received a N6 billion grant from the Federal Government.
This revelation sparked criticism from lawmakers, including House Committee Finance Chairman Abiodun Faleke, who questioned why JAMB, a self-sustaining agency, continues to receive federal funding.
“You remitted N4 billion and got N6 billion from the federal government. Why not keep the N4 billion and we stop the government from funding JAMB?” Faleke asked.
Faleke proposed the idea of cutting off JAMB’s allocation in future budgets unless the agency provides a convincing justification for its reliance on government funding.
JAMB’s Revenue Generation and Contribution
According to JAMB’s latest bulletin, the board generated N22,996,653,265.25 in revenue in 2024, largely through examination fees charged to students. Out of this, JAMB remitted N6,034,605,510.69 to the federal treasury.
The bulletin also highlighted the impact of the N1,500 reduction in UTME form fees, which increased JAMB’s effective remittance to N9,013,068,510.69.
Under the leadership of Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB has contributed over N50 billion to the national treasury in the past seven years.
“As we reflect on 2024, it is essential to uphold our commitment to transparency by sharing our financial performance for the year,” the bulletin stated.
Calls for Accountability and Transparency
The National Assembly’s scrutiny of JAMB’s spending has reignited debates about the financial practices of public agencies. Lawmakers criticized the board for what they described as excessive spending on non-essential items and called for greater accountability.
Oshiomhole’s remarks underscore the need for JAMB to justify its expenditures, particularly when they appear to conflict with the financial realities of many Nigerian students.
Conclusion
As JAMB defends its 2025 budget, the National Assembly is expected to conduct further reviews of its financial practices, including the justification for its reliance on government funding despite significant revenue generation. The controversy highlights the broader need for transparency and fiscal responsibility in public institutions, particularly those funded by citizens’ contributions.
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