Tension erupted at the National Assembly on Wednesday when officials of the Joint Admissions & Matriculation Board (JAMB) walked out on the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education & Examination Bodies during a budget review session.
The committee was examining JAMB’s 2023–2025 financial records, including payments to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Chairman Obuku Oforji said the panel had sent 3 letters—on October 6, 17 & 23—requesting documents and the personal appearance of JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.
However, Oloyede was represented by Mufutau Bello, a director in his office, who later asked journalists to leave the room, citing “sensitive information” in the documents he planned to present. The lawmakers rejected the request, insisting the hearing remain public.
In protest, Bello led his team out of the meeting. The committee chair ordered the sergeant-at-arms to arrest the officials but they had already left.
Oforji condemned the walkout, calling it “unacceptable” and accusing JAMB of evading accountability. “We wrote three letters to the registrar. Instead of appearing, he sent a representative who accused us of trying to emb+rrass JAMB. That’s very unfortunate,” he said.
Committee member Awaji-Inombek Abiante said JAMB’s action showed “disrespect for Nigerians,” adding, “Oversight is not a favour; it’s a constitutional duty. We’ve heard stories of snakes swallowing money — maybe this time, it’s something bigger.”
Another member, Rodney Amboiowei, stressed that no agency could dictate how parliament operates, saying, “Nigerians deserve to know how their money is spent.”
The committee adjourned the session to next Tuesday and directed the JAMB registrar to appear in person. Oforji warned that failure to comply would lead to an arrest warrant under sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution.
