The Federal Government’s financial support for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) may be withdrawn in the 2025 budget following concerns raised by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance.
This development arose during JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede’s presentation of the agency’s 2025 budget proposal before the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Finance.
Prof. Oloyede reported that JAMB remitted ₦4 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund in 2024 while receiving a ₦6 billion grant from the Federal Government.
This discrepancy prompted lawmakers to question why a revenue-generating agency like JAMB still relies on government funding.
Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon. Abiodun Faleke, criticised the arrangement, stating, “You remitted ₦4 billion but collected ₦6 billion from the government. It would be better for you to retain your earnings and stop receiving government allocations.”
Similarly, Senator Adams Oshiomhole condemned JAMB’s spending pattern, questioning the ₦1.1 billion spent on meals and refreshments and ₦850 million allocated for security, cleaning, and fumigation.
“What exactly did you fumigate that cost ₦850 million? Are you spending money generated from struggling students, some of whom are orphans?” Oshiomhole asked.
He also challenged the agency to justify ₦600 million spent on local travels and ₦6.5 billion earmarked for local training.
In response, the committee urged JAMB to reassess its expenditures and explore self-sufficiency, hinting that federal grants could be discontinued in the upcoming budget.