The National Assembly has decided to cut JAMB's funding for the 2025 budget due to concerns over its financial management. Lawmakers criticized the board’s high spending while remitting funds to the federation account. JAMB's N6 billion government grant and expenditures on meals, security, and training were questioned.
The Nigerian National Assembly (NASS) has resolved to remove the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from the 2025 Federal Government budget following concerns about its financial management. Lawmakers voiced their dissatisfaction with the fact that JAMB remitted N4 billion to the federation account while still receiving N6 billion from the government in 2024. This revelation came after JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, presented the board's revenue projections to a joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Lawmakers, including Abiodun Faleke and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, questioned the justification for funding an agency that is supposed to be self-sustaining. They argued that if JAMB could remit such a substantial amount, it should not require additional government funding. Oshiomhole, in particular, criticized JAMB’s spending, especially the N1.1 billion spent on meals and refreshments, highlighting the inconsistency with the board’s role in serving the public, many of whom are students from low-income backgrounds.
Further scrutiny was directed at the N850 million spent on security, cleaning, and fumigation, as well as the N600 million allocated for local travel. Lawmakers also expressed concern over the N6.5 billion allocated for local training and N1 billion for a staff housing scheme, demanding a thorough breakdown of these expenditures.
The Senate, in its deliberations, pointed to a troubling gap between the revenue generated by federal agencies and the funds remitted to the federation account, raising concerns about inefficiency and potential mismanagement of public resources.
