Reps to probe N11m discrepancies in JAMB remittances to CRF

The House of Representatives said it would investigate discrepancies in the remittances of revenue to  the coffers of the federal government by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

This followed conflicting figures in the books of the Board and that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

While appearing before the House Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies, JAMB Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede said the examination body started remitting revenue to the Consolidated Revenue Fund less than a year after he assumed office.

He said that in 2017, JAMB remitted the sum of N7.8bn and followed it up with N5.2bn, N3.68bn, N3.82bn, N3.5bn and N3.1bn in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Oloyede further told the lawmakers that JAMB under his stewardship generated internal revenue of N13.33bn, N11.35bn, N9.74bn and N12.62bn respectively in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

However, the committee observed some discrepancies of about N11m after the submission of Mrs Lucy Anom who represented the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, prompting the Chairman of the Committee, Afoji Obuku to call for a sub-committee to look into the alleged differences.

However, the exam body kicked against

the federal government’s automated deduction of funds accruing to it from the registration fees paid by candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

Oloyede said the practice was significantly reducing its revenue contribution to the CRF.

“We tell government not to pay us salaries..We generate our own monies but these auto deduction is affected our revenue for capital projects,” he said.

Oloyede explained that from the schedule of Internally Generated Revenue, IGR of the board from 2019 to 2022, there was significant reduction in remittances of revenue to the coffers of the federal government due to reduction of examination fees for UTME candidates.

The committee, which assured of effective oversight of the examination body and some other agencies, had earlier requested the annual audited accounts, procurement plans, schedule of Internally Generated Revenue ,IGR and evidence of remittances from JAMB.

The committee further tasked JAMB to furnish it with a comprehensive list of its staff strength with a view to determining the level of compliance with the Federal Character Principle.