NIGERIA’s EDUCATION sector has been reported to have witnessed a significant financial contribution as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) disclosed a remittance of over N6 billion to the federal treasury for 2024.
The agency says this achievement forms part of the Board’s operating surplus, following the successful conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The Board’s weekly bulletin, released on Monday by its Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin, revealed that JAMB generated a total income of N22,996,653,265.25 in 2024.
From this, N6,034,605,510.69 was remitted to the federal government.
Additionally, JAMB’s decision to reduce UTME form fees by N1,500 per candidate added N2,978,463,000 to the effective remittance, bringing the total contribution to N9,013,068,510.69.
JAMB emphasised its commitment to financial transparency, which has been a hallmark of the organisation since 2017.
The bulletin noted that under the leadership of its Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, the Board has remitted over N50 billion to the national treasury in seven years.
This financial prudence was recognised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during a roundtable event in January 2024, where President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, lauded Prof. Oloyede’s leadership.
In 2024, JAMB expended N18,198,739,362.68 to conduct the UTME and meet operational costs, including payments to service providers and staff claims totalling N2,119,571,022.88.
Despite these expenditures, the Board prioritised affordability for candidates while maintaining its financial obligations.
The Board also highlighted the broader reforms implemented under Prof. Oloyede’s tenure.
These include enhanced accountability measures, weekly income and expenditure reports, and collaboration with other agencies to combat academic fraud.
One such initiative, formalised in April 2024, involved partnering with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to verify the authenticity of tertiary education certificates.
Furthermore, the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) commended JAMB’s operational efficiency during an official visit in March 2024, rating the Board highly using its Self-Assessment Tool (SAT).
The BPSR Director-General, Dr Dasuki Arabi, praised JAMB for its exemplary service delivery, describing Prof. Oloyede’s leadership as visionary.
JAMB’s commitment to transparency and resource management remains unwavering.
While reflecting on its 2024 achievements, the Board reiterated its dedication to equitable access to tertiary education, aiming to uphold fairness in its admission processes and financial dealings in 2025.
