National Assembly Questions JAMB Over N1.85bn Expenses on Feeding, Killing Mosquitoes, and Others

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance has criticized JAMB over its 2024 spending on meals, fumigation, and other items, questioning its reliance on federal funding despite being a revenue-generating agency.

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance on Monday raised concerns about what it described as “excessive expenditures” by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on meals, refreshments, fumigation, and other items in 2024. The committee also warned of potential cuts to JAMB’s federal funding in the 2025 budget.

The scrutiny followed a budget presentation by JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, to the Senate and House of Representatives’ Joint Committee on Finance. During the presentation, Oloyede revealed that JAMB remitted N4 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund in 2024 but received a N6 billion grant from the federal government.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) questioned the board’s spending, particularly N850 million on security, cleaning, and fumigation. He remarked, “You spent N1.1 billion on meals and refreshments. Are you being fed by the government for free? This money comes from poor students, many of whom are orphans. What exactly did you fumigate with N850 million? Were mosquitoes responsible for this expenditure?”

Oshiomhole also criticized JAMB’s N600 million expense on local travels.

Similarly, Abiodun Faleke, Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, questioned why JAMB, a self-sustaining and revenue-generating agency, should still depend on federal allocations. He said, “You remitted N4 billion but received N6 billion from the federal government. Why not retain the N4 billion and stop receiving government funding altogether?”

The committee emphasized the need for better financial accountability and warned that future allocations could be reconsidered if such spending patterns persist.