The hearing, organised to review JAMB’s 2023/2024 budget performance and revenue management, took an unexpected turn when the delegation, led by Mr. Mufutau Bello, a director at the agency, objected to media coverage and demanded that proceedings be held behind closed doors.
When the committee refused, Bello reportedly stood up and led his team out of the hearing room.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the walkout, the committee chairman, Hon. Oboku Oforji (PDP–Bayelsa), condemned the action as “unfortunate and unacceptable,” insisting that the legislature would not tolerate any act of disrespect or attempt to undermine its oversight powers.
“This committee has written three separate letters to the JAMB registrar requesting documents on budget performance, account statements, and evidence of remittances. Instead of honouring the invitation, he sent a former director who accused us of trying to embarrass JAMB,” Oforji said.
“Our duty is to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, not to witch-hunt any agency. The registrar has been given seven days—till Tuesday—to appear in person with all requested documents. Failure to do so will compel us to invoke our constitutional powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution.”
Also reacting, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP–Rivers) described the walkout as 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,” Abiante said.
“We’ve heard stories in this country where money was swallowed by snakes—maybe this time, a bigger creature has done the swallowing.”
In his contribution, Hon. Rodney Ambaiowei (PDP–Bayelsa) faulted the attempt by the board to exclude the media, saying that transparency demands public scrutiny.
“No agency has the right to dictate how the parliament conducts its business. Public funds must be publicly accounted for. Nigerians deserve to know how their money is spent,” he declared.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to uphold legislative integrity and transparency, warning that continued defiance by JAMB would attract constitutional sanctions.
