Officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) yesterday walked out of a budget defence session of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies after lawmakers rejected their request to exclude journalists from covering the proceedings.
The session, chaired by Hon Oboku Oforji, was held at the National Assembly to review JAMB’s 2023 to 2024 budget performance, internally generated revenue, evidence of remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and the board’s bank statements from 2023 to date.
JAMB Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, who was invited to appear before the committee, failed to show up. He was represented by the Director of Finance and Administration, Mr Mufutau Bello.
Trouble began when Bello asked journalists to leave the hearing room, claiming that the documents he intended to present contained sensitive information. The committee immediately rejected the request, insisting that its proceedings were public and constitutionally protected.
Visibly angered by the refusal, Bello reportedly ordered his team to leave the venue, abruptly ending the session and leaving the lawmakers stunned.
An enraged committee directed the Sergeant at Arms to arrest the JAMB officials, but they had already left the premises before the order could be executed.
Describing the incident as unfortunate and unacceptable, Hon Oforji warned that the House would not condone any attempt to undermine its oversight powers.
“We wrote three letters on October 6, 17 and 23 requesting these documents and the Registrar’s appearance. Instead, he sent a former director who accused us of trying to embarrass JAMB. That is very unfortunate,” Oforji said.
He stressed that the committee’s oversight role was not meant to witch hunt any agency but to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
“Our duty is to ensure that every institution under our watch remains accountable to Nigerians,” he added.
Following the development, the committee issued a fresh summons directing Prof Oloyede to appear in person with his full management team and all requested documents on Tuesday, November 4.
“Failure to do so,” Oforji warned, “will compel the committee to invoke its powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.”
After the session, members of the committee described JAMB’s action as contempt of Parliament and a disregard for democratic accountability.
The hearing was adjourned till next Tuesday, with a stern warning that further defiance by JAMB would attract serious parliamentary sanctions.
