Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has remitted over N6 billion to the Federal government coffers as part of its operating surplus after conducting the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The Board also revealed that it has so far contributed over N50 billion as an operating surplus to the national treasury over the past seven years under the watch of Professor Is-haq Oloyede as Registrar and Chief Executive Officer.
This was contained in the Monday Bulletin of the Board made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Public Communication Advisor, JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin.
According to JAMB, 2024 represented a pivotal moment, marking a time to reap the rewards of the various innovations the Board has implemented.
It notes that one area where the Board has demonstrated commendable courage over the years is in enhancing accountability, transparency, and openness in its financial practices, stressing that since 2017, the Board has consistently provided weekly income and expenditure reports for public scrutiny.
While looking ahead to 2025, the Board reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining accountability, transparency, and openness in all financial dealings.
“As we reflect on 2024, it is essential to uphold our commitment to transparency by sharing our financial performance for the year. In 2024, the Board generated a total income of N22,996,653,265.25.
“From this amount, It expended N18,198,739,362.68 towards conducting examinations (UTME), paid service providers, and covering essential expenses, including staff claims amounting to N2,119,571,022.88.
“Upon assuming office, Professor Is-haq Oloyede’s management team prioritized financial responsibility. In line with government regulations, it remitted over N7 billion from its operational surplus during the first year.
“Additionally, management initiated a programme to give back to candidates by reducing the cost of its application documents by N1,500, a practice that has continued with subsequent remittances to the federal treasury.
“In 2024, the Board remitted N6,034,605,510.69 to the government. When combined with the N1,500 reduction per form for candidates multiplied by the number of candidates that benefited in 2024, the total remittance by JAMB would amount to N9,013,068,510.69.
“Looking ahead to 2025, the Board remains committed to maintaining accountability, transparency, and openness in all financial dealings. The Board will also continue to ensure equity and fairness for all candidates in the admission process, which remains its core mandate,” it stated.
The Board highlighted various reforms instituted by the management of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board under the leadership of Prof. Is-haq Oloyede over the years culminating in significant achievements and recognition in 2024.
It recalled that at a roundtable organized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in January 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, commended the Board and specifically highlighted Prof. Oloyede’s exemplary character, purposeful leadership, and prudent management of resources.
“This recognition was underscored by the Board’s remarkable contribution of N50 billion as an operating surplus to the national treasury over the past seven years,” it noted.
The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) had shortly after rated JAMB highly in its performance index using its Self-Assessment Tool (SAT).
During an official visit to JAMB’s National Headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, on March 19, 2024, BPSR Director-General Dr Dasuki Arabi praised the Board for its commitment to efficient service delivery and acknowledged Prof. Oloyede’s visionary leadership.
In response to the government’s confidence in JAMB, the Board was tasked with combating the prevalence of fake degrees and certificates in the country. To enhance its efforts in this area, JAMB collaborated with relevant agencies, including the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
In April 2024, this partnership was formalized to protect the integrity of tertiary education certificates, helping to identify fraudulent candidates seeking to participate in the NYSC scheme.
The year 2024 also marked a commitment to inclusivity, as JAMB announced a refund of registration fees for all candidates with disabilities and pledged to provide free Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) forms for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to alleviate their financial burdens.
Recognition continued throughout the year, with the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, commending JAMB for its rigorous examination processes and transparency regarding the Mmesoma matter. The Deputy Senate President further lauded the Board’s unprecedented achievements, advocating for honors to be bestowed upon its leadership.
JAMB also adopted a new Performance Management System (PMS) to replace the outdated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER). This new system according to the Board aims to ensure accountability and improve staff performance.
The Board further highlighted
significant achievements, having successfully conducted the 2024 UTME without any disruptions, including the foreign component of the examination held in eight countries in July 2024.
Prof. Oloyede’s management during the period under review introduced a novel initiative by allocating N1 billion to support the Hope Housing Scheme, aiming to assist staff with low incomes in securing housing and discouraging unethical practices.
The Board continued to promote excellence in admissions into tertiary institutions, consolidating the gains of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance Merit Award (NATAP-M), which recognizes compliance with admission guidelines.
The fourth edition of the award, covering the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic years, featured a cash prize pool of N710 million. The University of Ilorin emerged as the top institution, receiving a N500 million prize, while Ahmadu Bello University and Borno State University followed closely with cash prizes of N75 million and N25 million, respectively.
In a decisive move, JAMB declared that it would no longer accommodate illegal admissions through the “Condolement of Illegal Admissions without Registration Number,” a practice that allowed the absorption of candidates who had been admitted illegally prior to 2017.
