JAMB Registrar Clarifies Budget Misconceptions

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has addressed misconceptions surrounding the Board’s alleged expenditure on fumigation and other activities in 2024. Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Oloyede refuted claims of careless spending, stating that the figures reported were either misinterpreted or exaggerated.

Oloyede clarified that JAMB spent less than ₦1 million on fumigation across all states in 2024. “Indeed, what we spent on fumigation in the whole federation, all offices in 2024, was not up to ₦1 million. What we budgeted for 2025 for fumigation is less than ₦2 million,” he stated.

The Registrar explained that the confusion arose from an incomplete presentation of the 2025 budget proposal. “On the succeeding page, we provided the breakdown with asterisks to call attention to it, but we did not go and read the other pages where we analyzed what we were doing,” he noted.

Regarding the purported ₦6.5 billion spent on training in 2024, Oloyede clarified that the amount was part of the 2025 budget plan. The funds cover multiple budget lines, including exam monitoring, admission costs, payment for e-facilities, and awards for top-performing universities. “We have 10,500 examiners and invigilators conducting both the mock and the UTME. Some of them stay for 10 days. Their daily travel allowance (DTA) is determined by the government, not JAMB,” he explained.

He also addressed the provision of meals at JAMB headquarters, emphasizing that the arrangement was both a security and operational measure. “We provide one lunch for staff in the headquarters to prevent disruptions to our ICT infrastructure and ensure security,” Oloyede said.

Responding to calls to reduce the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) fee, Oloyede pointed out that the fee had already been reduced from ₦5,000 to ₦3,500. “This is the least paid anywhere in the world for admission exams unless you want it to be given free,” he remarked.

The Registrar further explained that increased budget provisions were necessary due to the rise in the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000. “In all the states of the federation, we have 580 security personnel and cleaners. Where would their salaries come from?” he queried.

To dispel any lingering doubts, Oloyede expressed hope that the National Assembly committee would allow him to provide further clarifications on the budget.