The National Assembly has expressed its intent to exclude the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from the federal budget for 2025, citing concerns over financial mismanagement.

This decision follows a recent presentation by JAMB's Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who defended the agency’s budget proposal during a session with the Senate and House of Representatives' joint committee.

During this session, Oloyede revealed that JAMB had remitted N4 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund in 2024 while receiving N6 billion in grants from the federal government. Lawmakers, including Abiodun Faleke and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, raised significant objections to this arrangement.

They questioned the rationale behind a self-funding agency receiving government allocations, with Faleke suggesting that JAMB should retain its remittances and cease reliance on government funding.

Oshiomhole further criticized JAMB's expenditures, highlighting that N1.1 billion was spent on meals and refreshments, alongside substantial amounts allocated for security and local travel.

He challenged the justification for these expenses, particularly given that they are funded by students, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Oshiomhole's inquiries extended to other budget items, demanding clarity on the allocation of funds for training and staff housing.

Senator Sani Musa, chairing the committee, expressed broader concerns regarding low revenue remittances from various ministries and agencies to the federation account.

He emphasized that this trend undermines the government's ability to finance essential infrastructure and social services, raising alarms about potential inefficiencies and mismanagement within these agencies.