The House of Representatives has ordered the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to remit N3.602 billion within 30 days to the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
This directive was issued by Rep. Bamidele Salam, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, during an investigative hearing in Abuja.
The order followed a demand from the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), which accused JAMB of failing to remit its full operating surplus to the federal government. Rep. Salam clarified that the remittance is based on regulatory guidelines, stating it is not subject to personal interpretation, and insisted that JAMB must adhere to the financial laws regulating government agencies.
The dispute
The core issue of the disagreement revolves around whether JAMB should remit 25% or 50% of its revenue. According to Bello, the FRC insists that JAMB should remit 50%, while the Accountant-General’s office allows a concession for 25%. JAMB contends that it has over-remitted based on the 25% threshold and has continued to do so annually
Mr. Mufutau Bello, JAMB’s Director of Finance and Administration, defended the board’s actions, explaining that JAMB has consistently remitted 25% of its revenue as granted by the Accountant-General’s office. He highlighted that JAMB reduced its registration fees from N5,000 to N3,500 in 2019 to ease the financial burden on Nigerians. According to Bello, the FRC now expects JAMB to remit 50% of its revenue, which he claims is a deviation from the existing arrangement.
“If judged by the 25% benchmark, JAMB has overremitted over the years,” Bello argued, adding that the current confusion stems from the FRC’s demand for a higher remittance percentage.
Mr. Bello Aliyu, the representative of the FRC, explained that as of 2021, JAMB’s outstanding liabilities stood at N390.725 million. With the submission of JAMB’s 2022 audited financial statement, the FRC calculated a new liability of N3.602 billion. This amount, according to Aliyu, was communicated to JAMB on March 14, 2023, followed by a reminder on August 31, but no response was received.
Final directive
Despite JAMB’s explanation, the Public Accounts Committee ruled that the N3.602 billion must be remitted within 30 days, and evidence of payment should be provided. The committee emphasized the need for compliance with financial regulations.
What you should know
JAMB has denied reports that it had increased the registration fee for its 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), confirming that the cost remains N3,500, unchanged since it was reduced from N5,000 in 2018.
Despite rising production costs, the examination body has maintained the same fee to avoid overburdening candidates. In a statement, JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, clarified that one of the ways JAMB ensures costs remain low is by offering the Use of English reading text for free through a QR code. This allows candidates to access the material without incurring additional expenses.
The confusion over an alleged fee increase stems from the consolidation of fees as part of JAMB’s cashless policy. This policy integrates payments to CBT centres, including a N700 registration fee, N1,500 examination fee, and N1,500 for the optional Mock-UTME, into the overall payment process.
These fees are collected by JAMB on behalf of CBT centres to prevent exploitation by unscrupulous operators. However, the core fee for the UTME e-PIN remains fixed at N3,500 for the 2024 exam cycle.
