By Godfrey AKON
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has raised concerns about the misrepresentation of figures in the 2025 budget proposal presented to the National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance.
Speaking to reporters at an event in Abuja on Tuesday, Oloyede dismissed reports alleging that the Board spent exorbitant amounts on fumigation, meals, and other items in 2024.
He described these claims as baseless misrepresentations.
Oloyede clarified that JAMB’s total expenditure on fumigation across all states in 2024 was less than N1 million.
“I want to state emphatically, without any doubt, that I never presented a 2024 budget performance before the National Assembly yesterday. These claims stem from a misunderstanding,” he said.
He emphasized that the Board’s 2025 budget proposal allocated less than N2 million for fumigation nationwide.
Oloyede explained that the confusion arose because a detailed breakdown of the proposal was not thoroughly reviewed during the presentation.
“On the following page, we provided a breakdown with asterisks to draw attention to key details, but it appears the analysis was overlooked,” he noted.
Addressing allegations of N6.5 billion spent on training in 2024, Oloyede clarified that the amount is a 2025 proposal covering various budget lines.
These include monitoring examinations, admission expenses, e-facility payments, and awards for outstanding higher education institutions.
“We have 10,500 examiners and invigilators conducting both mock and UTME examinations. Some of them stay for 10 days, and their Daily Travel Allowances (DTA) are determined by the government, not me. My role is to account for these claims,” he explained.
Responding to claims about excessive spending on meals, Oloyede said JAMB provides lunch at its headquarters to maintain operational efficiency and security.
“At JAMB headquarters, we provide lunch for staff to avoid disruptions caused by frequent movement and to protect our sensitive ICT infrastructure from potential damage.
For 2025, we have budgeted for meals for 2,300 staff over 22 working days per month, which amounts to over N1 billion annually,” he said.
Oloyede also addressed calls for a reduction in the UTME fee instead of remitting surplus funds to the federal government.
“We have already reduced the UTME fee from N5,000 to N3,500, making it the lowest globally for any admission process. Unless Nigerians want it entirely free, I believe we have done what is reasonable,” he said.
He further explained the proposed amounts for cleaners and security personnel, stating that JAMB employs 580 cleaners and security staff across all states. The recent increase in the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 has also impacted the Board’s budgetary provisions.
Oloyede expressed optimism that the National Assembly committee would grant him the opportunity to provide further clarifications, resolving any lingering misunderstandings.
“I am confident that, given the chance, Nigerians will understand that I, Ishaq Oloyede, would never misuse public funds,” he concluded.
