National Assembly Threatens to Remove JAMB from 2025 Budget Over Unjustified N4bn Non-Remittance

The National Assembly has issued a warning to remove the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from the 2025 budget proposal, citing the agency’s failure to remit N4 billion to the federation account despite receiving N6 billion in federal grants for 2024.

The warning came after a presentation by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, at an interactive session with the joint committee of the National Assembly. During the session, Oloyede defended the board’s 2025 budget proposal, detailing the performance of JAMB’s 2024 budget. He revealed that the board had remitted ₦4 billion but received a grant of N6 billion from the federal government, raising concerns among committee members.

Lawmakers, including Rep. Abiodun Faleke and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, questioned why a self-funding agency like JAMB should continue receiving federal funding. “You remitted ₦4 billion and got ₦6 billion from the federal government. Why not keep the ₦4 billion and stop funding JAMB?” Faleke asked.

Oshiomhole also raised concerns about JAMB’s expenditures, including ₦1.1 billion on meals and refreshments, ₦600 million on local travels, and N6.5 billion on local training programs. He criticized the board for using funds generated from students, many of whom are disadvantaged, to cover such expenses.

Senator Sani Musa, the committee chairman, expressed concerns about the general low remittance of revenues by government agencies and ministries. He warned that this trend undermines the government’s ability to fund critical infrastructure and social services, pointing to inefficiencies and potential mismanagement.

The committee has pledged to continue scrutinizing the financial operations of government agencies to ensure transparency, accountability, and proper adherence to remittance obligations.