“Reps Demand JAMB Remit ₦3 Billion to Federal Government”

Babatunji wusu –

The House of Representatives has instructed the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to transfer ₦3.602 billion to the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). This directive was issued during an investigative hearing held in Abuja.

Rep. Bamidele Salam, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, underscored that this remittance is a clear legal obligation and not subject to individual interpretation. He clarified that the dispute at hand is not about the 25 percent versus 50 percent remittance rates as debated by JAMB.

The Committee has mandated JAMB to remit the specified amount to the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) and provide proof of the transaction within 30 days.

The FRC had previously brought JAMB before the Committee concerning unremitted operating surplus. Bello Aliyu, representing the FRC, revealed that as of 2021, the outstanding liabilities were ₦390.725 million, based on the records submitted. He noted that following JAMB’s 2022 audited financial statements, the liabilities were recalculated to ₦3.602 billion. The FRC had sent a notification letter on March 14 and a reminder on August 31, but had not received a response.

In response, Mufutau Bello, JAMB’s Director of Finance and Administration, explained that the discrepancy arose from the FRC’s proposal to adjust the board’s revenue remittance to 50 percent. He argued that JAMB has been faithfully remitting 25 percent of its revenue and highlighted that in 2019, the Federal Government had reduced the registration fee from ₦5,000 to ₦3,500 to benefit Nigerians. Bello pointed out that JAMB had not increased its fees in the past eight years and had been consistently remitting what it believed was required.

He added that the Accountant-General had granted JAMB a concession to remit 25 percent of its revenue, which is where the disagreement with the FRC arises. Bello concluded that if judged based on the 25 percent rate, JAMB has over-remitted in previous years, which he believes should be taken into account.