The drama that unfolded this week at the National Assembly between the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) deserves more than passing attention. It is a revealing moment about how Nigerian institutions interpret accountability and public trust.
According to verified reports from multiple national dailies, JAMB officials walked out of a budget
defence session after objecting to the presence of journalists in the room. The delegation, led by
a senior director in place of the Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, reportedly insisted that the
presentation contained “sensitive information” and should therefore be held behind closed doors. The lawmakers, however, rejected this request, insisting that all budget defence sessions are public proceedings. When the JAMB team left, the committee’s chairman, Hon. Oboku Oforji, described the act as “disrespectful and unfortunate,” accusing the agency of failing to comply with three previous invitations to appear. Another member, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, remarked that if JAMB could walk out on a National Assembly committee, “it means they no longer see themselves as accountable to Nigerians.”
Following the incident, the committee issued a summons for the Registrar to appear in person
on Monday, November 4, warning that failure to do so would trigger constitutional sanctions under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution.
While JAMB has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, the facts raise serious questions about transparency in public institutions. The Board is one of Nigeria’s most visible education agencies, responsible for organising the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and ensuring fair access to higher education. Its reputation for efficiency and revenue
discipline has often been cited as an example of good governance. Yet accountability, even for credible institutions, cannot be selective.
Public budget sessions exist to reassure Nigerians that taxpayer funds are being properly
managed. Attempts to exclude the media — except in cases involving national security — risk
undermining that confidence. On the other hand, parliamentary oversight must also be exercised with courtesy and professionalism to prevent legitimate oversight from appearing
adversarial.
This episode, though uncomfortable, provides an important lesson for both sides. Transparency
is not an act of convenience — it is a duty. JAMB and other education agencies must embrace
openness not merely to satisfy legislative procedure but to strengthen the trust of students,
parents, and the wider public.
As November 4 approaches, Nigerians will be watching closely. What happens next will not just
determine how one agency defends its budget — it will test how far our institutions are willing to
go in making transparency the norm rather than the exception
