Reps C’ttee Warns JAMB Over Blatant Disregard, Refusal To Appear, Present Documents …Gives Registrar 6 Days To Appear In Person

By Alkassim Bala Tsakuwa, Abuja

The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education Examination Bodies has warned the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over its blatant disregard to the request for documents and appearance by the examination body.

The Committee also gave the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oluyede six days to appear before the Committee at its next sitting on Tuesday.

The warning and directive followed the walking out on the Committee on Wednesday by a Director, Mufutau Bello who was sent by the JAMB Registrar to represent him.

Bello insisted that journalists go out of the venue vacate since the documents he was to present contained sensitive information.

The Committee however refused, saying that its proceedings were to be public and it reserve the power to determine how its sittings were conducted.

But, the JAMB official ordered his team to leave, and walked out of the session leaving lawmakers stunned and angry by the his action.

The Committee ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to arrest the JAMB officials who had already left the premises.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Oboku Oforji described the incident as “unfortunate and unacceptable and warned that the legislature would not tolerate acts of disrespect or attempts to undermine its oversight authority.

He said, “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”.

He noted that the Committee’s mandate was to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public funds—not to witch-hunt any agency.

The Committee therefore resolved and gave JAMB till Tuesday for the Registrar to appear in person with his management team and present all requested documents.

Hon. Oforji warned that, failure to do so 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’s action, describing it as a contempt of Parliament and a slap on democratic accountability.

A member of the Committee, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante said JAMB’s walkout signaled a dangerous disregard for legislative authority.

He 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”.

Abiante hinted that, the JAMB officials behaviors points at possible financial irregularities in the organisation saying that, there are always such behaviours in previous issues involving missing public funds in MDAs.

He said, “We’ve heard stories where money was swallowed by snakes. Maybe this time, a bigger creature has done the swallowing”.

Similarly, Hon. Rodney Amboiowei faulted the agency’s attempt to bar the press, insisting that public funds must be publicly accounted for.

He said, “No agency has the right to dictate how Parliament conducts its business. Nigerians deserve to know how their money is spent”.

Also speaking, Hon. Marie Enenimiete Ebikake expressed shock over what transpired saying that the official who led the delegation was not even the Registrar.

She said, “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 adjourned its next session till next week Tuesday, warning that any further disregard by JAMB would attract serious sanctions by the Parliament.