National Assembly To Remove JAMB From Federal Budget

The National Assembly comprising of the Senate and House of Representatives moved to remove the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) led by Professor Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede from the Federal Government budget of 2025, ENigeria Newspaper reports.

The lawmakers who cited several reasons for decision among which were questionable financial practices, excessive expenditure among others also questioned the logic of a self-sustainable agency like JAMB by the Federal Government.

ENigeria Newspaper reports that during an interactive session on revenue projections, JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede, a professor of Islamic Studies revealed that the board remitted ₦4 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund but received ₦6 billion in government grants for 2024. This sparked criticism from lawmakers, including Senator Adams Oshiomhole and House Finance Committee Chairman Abiodun Faleke, who questioned the logic of funding a self-sustaining agency.

Faleke suggested JAMB retain its remitted funds instead of relying on government grants, while Oshiomhole condemned the board’s ₦1.1 billion expenditure on meals, calling it excessive. Additional scrutiny was placed on JAMB’s ₦850 million for security, ₦600 million for local travel, and ₦6.5 billion for training, with demands for detailed explanations.

The Joint Finance Committee Chair, Senator Sani Musa, expressed broader concerns about low remittances from government agencies, which hinder funding for critical infrastructure and social services. The lawmakers emphasized the need for accountability to address inefficiencies and potential revenue leakages in federal agencies.