A delegation of the management of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Wednesday walked out on the House of Representatives committee on basic education examination bodies over media presence at a public hearing in Abuja.
The public hearing, organised by the committee, was to investigate JAMB’s 2023/2024 budget performance and revenue management over the period.
However, the delegation, led by Mufutau Bello, a director at the agency, wanted the hearing held in closed session.
He disagreed with the committee over the presence of the journalists in the hall and consequently led other members of the delegation to walk out of the hearing.
Addressing journalists after the walkout, the chairman of the committee, Rep. Oboku Oforji (PDP-Bayelsa), described the delegate’s action as “unfortunate and unacceptable.”
Mr Oforji said that the legislature would not tolerate acts of disrespect or attempts to undermine its oversight authority.
He explained that the committee wrote three consecutive letters to the JAMB registrar, requesting documents on budget performance, account statements and evidence of remittances, among others.
The lawmaker said that instead of appearing, the registrar sent a former director who accused the committee of trying to embarrass JAMB, saying the development was very unfortunate.
He said that the committee’s mandate was to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public funds and not to witch-hunt any agency.
“Our duty is to ensure that every agency under our watch is accountable to Nigerians. The committee has given JAMB registrar seven days to appear in person to answer some questions.
“The committee has now given JAMB till Tuesday for the registrar to appear in person with his management team and present all requested documents.
“Failure to do so will compel the committee to invoke its powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended,” he said.
Also speaking, Rep. Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP-Rivers) said JAMB’s walkout signalled a dangerous disregard for legislative authority.
“If JAMB could 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 have heard stories where money was swallowed by snakes. Maybe this time, a bigger creature has done the swallowing,” he said.
Rep. Rodney Amboiowei (PDP-Bayelsa) also faulted the attempt by the board to bar the press, saying that public funds must be publicly accounted for.
“No agency has the right to dictate how the parliament conducts its business. Nigerians deserve to know how their money is spent,” he said.
(NAN)