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National Assembly Threatens to Cut JAMB’s Funding Over Excessive Spending

Published by Tope Fakinlede on January 14th, 2025.

National Assembly Threatens to Cut JAMB’s Funding Over Excessive Spending

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance has warned that it may reduce the federal government’s financial support for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the 2025 budget proposal due to concerns over its excessive expenditure.

This warning came after JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, presented the agency’s budget proposal to the committee, which comprises members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Oloyede reported that JAMB had remitted N4 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund in 2024, but also received N6 billion in grants from the government. This raised concerns among committee members, such as Abiodun Faleke and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who questioned the rationale behind government funding for an agency that generates its own revenue.

Faleke remarked, “Why not keep the N4 billion and eliminate government funding for JAMB?” Oshiomhole criticized JAMB’s expenditure, particularly the N1.1 billion spent on meals and refreshments, N850 million for security, cleaning, and fumigation, and N600 million for local travel. He demanded an explanation for the N6.5 billion allocated to local training, asking, “What exactly was fumigated? Did mosquitoes consume all that money?”

Oshiomhole further pointed out that the N1.1 billion spent on meals and refreshments was funded by fees collected from students, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds. He also questioned the necessity of spending large sums on security and cleaning services.