The Chairman and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education Examination Bodies were left shell-shocked on Wednesday as officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) walked out on them following the denial of their request that journalists be sent out before commencement of proceedings.
The Rep. Oforji Oboku-headed Committee had invited JAMB’s management to deliberate on the examination body’s 2023–2024 budget performance, the management of its internally generated revenue, (IGR) remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and bank statements covering the same period.
According to the Committee, three letters had been sent to the JAMB Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede on October 6, 17, and 23, 2025, respectively requesting his personal appearance with relevant documents.
However, rather than personally honouring the invitation, the Registrar delegated a Director, Mufutau Bello to represent him.
Trouble started when Bello asked that journalists leave the meeting room, arguing that documents to be tendered contained confidential information.
The lawmakers would however not have that, insisting that the committee’s proceedings were open to the public and besides, only Parliament has the authority to determine how such sessions are conducted.
To the consternation of the committee, a furious Bello signalled his team to get up, leading the way out of the hearing room. He raged: “They want to embarrass us. You cannot embarrass us. Let us go, let us go”.
In a swift reaction, the Committee directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to detain the officials, but they had already exited the building.
Oboku described the walkout as regrettable and disrespectful, warning that the legislature would not condone any attempt to challenge its constitutional oversight powers.
The committee chairman explained that “We wrote three consecutive letters to the Registrar requesting these documents. Instead of appearing, he sent a former Director who accused us of trying to embarrass JAMB. That is very unfortunate”.
Emphasising that the committee’s mandate was to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public funds and not to witch-hunt any agency, Oboku stated that “Our duty is to ensure every agency under our watch is accountable to Nigerians”.
The Committee consequently directed the Registrar to appear in person with his management team and present all requested documents before it by Tuesday next week or face possible sanctions.
According to Oboku “Failure to do so, we will compel the Committee to invoke its powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, members of the committee condemned JAMB management’s action, describing it as a contempt of Parliament and a slap on democratic accountability.
Rep. Abiante Awaji-Inombek said JAMB’s walkout signalled a dangerous disregard for legislative authority. Hinting at possible financial irregularities, the lawmaker recalled previous controversies involving missing public funds.
A miffed Awaji-Inombek said, “If JAMB can walk out on a National Assembly committee, it means they no longer see themselves as accountable to Nigerians. Oversight is not a favour; it’s a constitutional duty.
“We’ve heard of instances where is it snakes or something swallowed money and I think it is the same agency. Probably a bigger swallow may have happened and they have not prepared themselves for the autopsy”.
Rep. Rodney Ambaiowei on his part, berated the agency’s attempt to bar the press, insisting that public funds must be publicly accounted for.
Ambaiowei said “No agency has the right to dictate how Parliament conducts its business. Nigerians deserve to know how their money is spent”.
Speaking in the same vein, Rep. Marie Ebikake expressed shock that the person who led the delegation was not even the Registrar.
She stated that “We don’t know who this man is. He refused to identify himself. For all we know, he could have been impersonating. The Registrar must appear by Tuesday to explain what JAMB is doing with public funds”.
The Committee’s session was then adjourned till next Tuesday, with a strong warning that the JAMB Registrar must appear with his management team and relevant documents or the committee would be compelled to issue a warrant.