The House of Representatives Committee on Examination Bodies has demanded explanations from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board over a ₦3 billion staff benefit payment and computer-related expenditure of about ₦710 million against an approved provision of ₦220 million.
The queries arose during an oversight meeting with JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, and the board’s management, as lawmakers sought clarification on the budgetary authority for several transactions.
Explaining the ₦3 billion payment, Aina said the money covered accumulated obligations under an additional staff benefit scheme initially conceived as a housing programme.
He said JAMB had provided ₦1 billion annually for the scheme in 2024, 2025 and 2026 before combining the amounts into a single payment.
However, the committee questioned the consolidation of provisions from different financial years and their conversion into pension-related contributions without documentary evidence of the necessary approval.
The committee’s chairman, Oboku Oforji, said appropriations were tied to specific fiscal years and could not automatically be carried forward or redirected without authorisation.
Lawmakers consequently requested documents establishing that the National Assembly approved the conversion of the housing provisions into additional staff benefits.
The committee also scrutinised computer-related spending, questioning how expenditure reached approximately ₦710 million when the approved provision was ₦220 million.
Members sought an explanation for the ₦490 million difference and raised concerns about possible overlaps between budget lines for computer purchases and consumables.
Other expenditure queried included ₦874 million reportedly spent on meals and refreshments and ₦696 million on travel and transportation.
Aina explained that the meals and refreshments were part of a staff welfare arrangement, while transportation expenditure supported JAMB’s nationwide activities.
These included deploying personnel to inspect and accredit Computer-Based Test centres ahead of the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
Addressing the discrepancies, the registrar acknowledged that the financial records required clearer presentation. He said some documents submitted to the committee contained figures from different budget years, which may have contributed to the concerns raised.
Beyond the financial review, lawmakers highlighted difficulties candidates face in accessing examination centres.
A member cited Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, where candidates reportedly travel to neighbouring areas to sit for the UTME because the locality has no examination centre.
The committee also urged JAMB to address inconsistencies between admission offers issued by tertiary institutions and those recognised by the board.
Aina said his administration was working to improve services and strengthen public confidence.
He highlighted a National Identification Number alignment service developed with the National Identity Management Commission to resolve discrepancies in candidates’ personal records.
He also outlined plans for electronic verification of O’Level results in collaboration with the West African Examinations Council, the National Examinations Council and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board.
At the close of the meeting, the committee directed JAMB’s management to reconcile its financial records and provide supporting documents for the transactions under review.
It said a fresh hearing date would be communicated, stressing the obligation of public institutions to account for expenditure and comply with approved budgetary provisions.
