There was mild drama at the National Assembly Complex on Wednesday as officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) staged a walkout on members of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies after rejecting an open budget hearing.
The committee had summoned JAMB to defend its 2025 budget proposal, provide details of revenue remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and present bank statements covering 2023 to date.
However, tension erupted when Mufutau Bello, a director representing the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, requested that journalists and observers vacate the hearing room, claiming that the documents to be presented contained “sensitive information.”
The committee, led by Hon. Obuku Oforji, declined the request, insisting that all proceedings must remain public and transparent.
Visibly angered by the decision, Bello led the JAMB delegation out of the room, prompting outrage among lawmakers.
“This is totally unacceptable,” Oforji said, fuming after the walkout. “We wrote three consecutive letters to the registrar requesting these documents. Instead of appearing, he sent a director who accused us of trying to embarrass JAMB. That is very unfortunate. Our duty is to ensure accountability to Nigerians.”
In response, the committee chair ordered the sergeant-at-arms to arrest the JAMB officials, but they had already left the premises before the order could be enforced.
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awmakers later addressed journalists, vowing to hold the examination body accountable.
Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a committee member, described JAMB’s conduct as “a slap on the legislature.”
“If JAMB can walk out on a National Assembly committee, it means they no longer see themselves as accountable to Nigerians. Oversight is not a favour; it’s a constitutional duty,” he said.
“We’ve heard stories about snakes swallowing money; maybe this time, a bigger creature has done the swallowing.”
Another lawmaker, Hon. Rodney Amboiowei, stated that no government agency has the power to dictate how parliament conducts its business.
“Nigerians deserve to know how their money is spent. No agency is above the National Assembly,” he said.
The committee later adjourned the session to next Tuesday, directing the JAMB Registrar to appear in person. Oforji warned that if Prof. Oloyede fails to honour the summons, the panel will invoke its constitutional powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution to issue an arrest warrant.
“Failure to appear will compel us to exercise our powers fully. No agency is exempt from legislative scrutiny,” Oforji declared.
