A tense confrontation occurred at the National Assembly on Wednesday when officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) walked out of a House of Representatives Committee session on Basic Education and Examination Bodies.
The Committee, chaired by Oboku Oforji of Bayelsa State, had summoned JAMB to account for its 2023–2024 budget performance, internally generated revenue remittances, and other financial operations, including bank statements and evidence of transfers to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Despite three formal invitations sent on October 6, 17, and 23, 2025, the Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, did not appear in person. Instead, he sent Director Mufutau Bello as his representative, escalating tensions when Bello demanded that journalists leave the session, citing the sensitive nature of the documents. Lawmakers refused, insisting the hearing was public and within the Committee’s authority.
Agitated by the Committee’s stance, Bello ordered his team to exit the room, prompting lawmakers to attempt detaining the officials. By the time the Sergeant-at-Arms arrived, the JAMB delegation had already left.
Describing the walkout as “unacceptable and disrespectful,” Oforji stressed that the Committee’s role is to ensure transparency and accountability, not to embarrass any agency. “We sent three formal requests to the Registrar. Instead of complying, he sent a representative who accused us of trying to embarrass JAMB. That is unfortunate and cannot be tolerated,” he said.
The Committee has now given Prof. Oloyede until Tuesday, November 4, 2025, to appear in person with his management team and provide all requested documents. Failure to comply may trigger enforcement actions under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution.
Several lawmakers condemned JAMB’s actions as a contemptuous disregard for parliamentary oversight. Abiante said the incident revealed a troubling lack of accountability and highlighted concerns about public fund management, while Rodney Ambaiowei criticized attempts to exclude the press, emphasizing that transparency is mandatory for public resources.
Rivers lawmaker Marie Ebikake expressed surprise at the Registrar’s absence and the unclear leadership of the delegation, insisting that Prof. Oloyede must attend the next hearing to clarify JAMB’s management of public funds.
The session was adjourned until next Tuesday, with lawmakers warning that further defiance by JAMB could invite strict parliamentary sanctions.
This incident underscores ongoing challenges in Nigeria where public agencies sometimes ignore legislative summons, undermining the National Assembly’s constitutional oversight role and accountability mechanisms.
