JAMB Registrar Faces National Assembly Following Walkout by Officials
A tense confrontation unfolded on Wednesday at the National Assembly as officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) abruptly walked out of a session convened by the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies.
The committee, led by Bayelsa lawmaker Oboku Oforji, had summoned JAMB to provide detailed accounts of its 2023–2024 budget performance, remittance of internally generated revenues, and other financial operations, including bank statements and evidence of transfers to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Non-compliance with summonses from National Assembly committees has become a recurring issue among public agencies in Nigeria, undermining parliamentary oversight, accountability, and the legislature’s constitutional authority. Agency heads often treat such invitations as optional, relying on political affiliations to escape scrutiny.
During the session, JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, failed to attend personally, sending Director Mufutau Bello in his stead. Tensions heightened when Bello requested that accredited journalists exit the room, claiming the financial documents were sensitive. The lawmakers rejected his request, asserting their authority to dictate the proceedings.
Bello’s insistence resulted in a walkout, leaving lawmakers stunned. The committee immediately ordered the detention of the JAMB officials, who had already vacated the premises. Oforji condemned the walkout, labeling it “unacceptable and disrespectful,” and emphasized the committee’s mandate for transparency and accountability.
The committee has now given Prof. Oloyede a deadline of Tuesday, November 4, 2025, to personally appear and submit all requested documents. Failure to comply may result in enforcement actions under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Lawmakers expressed strong disapproval of JAMB’s actions, citing a clear contempt for parliamentary oversight. Abiante remarked that the incident raises serious concerns over public fund management, while Rodney Ambaiowei criticized the agency’s attempt to exclude the press, emphasizing the public’s right to information regarding government expenditures.
The session was adjourned until next Tuesday, with a stern warning that further defiance from JAMB would invite strict parliamentary sanctions.
