Jaws drop as JAMB spends N1.85bn on refreshments and killing mosquitoes.
The National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance on Monday raised concerns over the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) expenditure on meals, refreshments, and fumigation in 2024, describing the spending as “excessive.”
The committee, which expressed displeasure with JAMB’s financial practices, hinted at a possible removal of federal government funding in the board’s 2025 budget.
The query came during a budget defense session, where JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, presented the board’s proposed 2025 budget.
Oloyede disclosed that while JAMB remitted N4 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund in 2024, it also received a grant of N6 billion from the federal government.
However, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) questioned the rationale behind JAMB’s expenditures, particularly the N850 million reportedly spent on security, cleaning, and fumigation.
“You spent N1.1 billion on meals and refreshments. Is the government feeding you for free? This money is coming from poor students, many of whom are orphans.
What exactly did you fumigate for N850 million? Did mosquitoes cost you that much?” Oshiomhole asked. He further criticized JAMB for allocating N600 million to local travels in 2024, questioning whether such spending was justifiable.
Similarly, Abiodun Faleke, Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, expressed concerns over JAMB’s dependence on federal allocations despite being a revenue-generating agency.
Faleke remarked, “You remitted N4 billion and received N6 billion from the government. Why not keep your N4 billion, and we stop giving JAMB any federal allocation?” The lawmakers called for a review of JAMB’s financial practices and urged the board to operate more independently and responsibly.
