Reps probe JAMB remittances into federation account

The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to investigate remittances made by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) into the federation account from 2007 till date.

This was sequel to the adoption of the motion on the need to investigate JAMB remittances sponsored by Rep. Segun Adekola (Ekiti/PDP).
Moving the motion, the lawmaker declared that the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun had recently announced that for the first time in its 40 years of existence, the JAMB remitted N5billion into government’s coffers.

He said that a balance of N3billion was still to be remitted, amounting to N8billion that would be remitted into the federal treasury within nine months of the current management of JAMB.

Rep. Adekola further disclosed that media reports indicate that between 2011 and 2015, the JAMB earned at least N30billion from registration fees paid by candidates who sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
According to him, JAMB only remitted a meagre amount into the coffers of the federal government even though within the period, it received over N2 billion yearly from the federal budget.

“The accountant general of the federation had in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI ) request by a media outfit, stated that JAMB remitted N11.5 million in 2011; N25million in 2013 and N13million in 2014 but did not make any remittances in 2012, 2015 and 2016 respectively,” he stated.

Rep. Adekola said that the total amount JAMB remitted into the federation account between 2010 and 2016 was N50.8million, which is about one per cent of the amount the agency remitted to the federal government in 2017 alone.
He further said that “the remittance of such an amount by a non-focal revenue generating agency underscores the importance of transparency in the administration and management of government business.”

The House member emphasized the urgent need to beam the searchlight on other government agencies to guide against the flagrant misappropriation of public funds with a view to promoting probity in governance.
The House thereafter mandated its committee on basic education and services to conduct an investigation into the management of the finances of JAMB from 2007 till date.

The investigation will be in relation to JAMB’s earnings from prospective candidates and remittances made to the federation account.
The committee has six weeks to conclude its assignment and report back for further legislative action.
 

Henry Omunu, Abuja