Drama As JAMB Officials Walk Out On Lawmakers

JAMB officials walked out during a House Committee session after a disagreement.
Lawmakers rejected their request to bar journalists from the meeting.
Committee issued an ultimatum to JAMB Registrar to appear next week.

A mild drama unfolded at the National Assembly on Wednesday when officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) walked out during a session with the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the lawmakers had invited JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, to appear before the committee and present certain documents, but he was absent and represented by a Director of the Board, Mufutau Bello, who attended with other senior officials.

According to reports by Channels Television, tension began when Bello objected to the presence of journalists in the meeting room, claiming that the documents he planned to present contained sensitive information that should not be made public.

However, the committee members rejected his request, maintaining that the proceedings were public and that the JAMB team could not dictate how the House conducted its oversight functions. The exchange quickly escalated, leading Bello to order his team to leave the session. The officials then walked out, leaving the lawmakers visibly shocked.

In reaction, the committee directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to arrest the officials, but they had already exited the premises before the order could be enforced.

The lawmakers subsequently issued an ultimatum to the JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, to appear before the committee in person by next Tuesday and present all requested documents.

Drama As JAMB Officials Walk Out On House Of Reps Members

The committee warned that failure to comply with the summons could result in the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the Registrar and other board officials involved.