During the 2025 budget defense session before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance, the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, came under scrutiny for the agency’s spending in the 2024 fiscal year. Leading the charge was Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who raised concerns about what he deemed to be extravagant expenses by the examination body.
One of the primary areas of concern was JAMB’s reported expenditure of N850 million on security, cleaning, and fumigation. Oshiomhole directly confronted Prof. Oloyede, asking, “You spent N850 million on security, cleaning, and fumigation. What did you fumigate? Was it mosquitoes that consumed all this money?” The senator’s sharp remarks reflected his skepticism about the legitimacy of such a large outlay for what seemed to be routine maintenance and security operations.
Oshiomhole also took issue with JAMB’s spending on meals and refreshments, particularly a staggering N1.1 billion allocated for these purposes. “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 money generated from poor students, many of whom are orphans,” Oshiomhole pointed out, implying that the funds could have been better utilized to support the education system rather than on lavish expenditures.
The former governor of Edo State further criticized JAMB’s N600 million expenditure on local travel. Oshiomhole questioned the necessity of such a significant amount being allocated to travel expenses, especially given the financial challenges faced by many students and their families. His remarks suggested that JAMB needed to tighten its fiscal discipline and prioritize its spending.
In defense of the agency, Prof. Oloyede explained that JAMB had made substantial contributions to the federal coffers. He revealed that the agency had remitted N4 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund in 2024, a testament to its role as a revenue-generating entity for the government. Additionally, Oloyede disclosed that JAMB received a N6 billion grant from the Federal Government during the same period.
However, the testimony did little to ease the concerns of lawmakers, particularly the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Abiodun Faleke. Faleke questioned JAMB’s continued reliance on federal allocations, despite its capacity to generate substantial revenue. “You remitted N4 billion and received N6 billion from the government. Why not retain the N4 billion and end government funding for JAMB?” Faleke asked, pointing out the apparent contradiction between the agency’s earnings and its reliance on government funding.
Faleke’s remarks signaled growing frustration among lawmakers over JAMB’s dependence on federal allocations. He, along with other members of the committee, suggested that unless JAMB could justify its reliance on government funds, its budgetary allocation could be reviewed and possibly reduced in the future. This proposal underscored the increasing pressure on government agencies to operate more efficiently and reduce unnecessary expenditures.
