Why We Budgeted N1.1bn for Meals, N850m for Fumigation in 2025 – JAMB

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has explained its decision to allocate N1.1 billion for staff meals and N850 million for fumigation, security, and cleaning in its proposed 2025 budget. The allocations, which were defended by JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede during a presentation to the National Assembly on January 13, have drawn significant criticism from lawmakers and the public.

Responding to the controversy, JAMB’s national spokesperson Fabian Benjamin issued a statement clarifying the rationale behind the figures. He noted that some media reports and comments from lawmakers had misrepresented the proposed expenditures, conflating them with unrelated past budgets.

According to JAMB, the N1.1 billion budget for meals will cater to its 2,300 staff members, including cleaners and security personnel, throughout 2025. The initiative is aimed at minimizing staff exposure to external risks during work hours and safeguarding ICT infrastructure by discouraging food consumption within office spaces.

JAMB attributed the increase in meal costs to rising food prices. It explained that vendors raised the cost of daily meals for staff from N1,200 to N2,200 per person, including taxes. While the projected cost for meals in 2025 amounts to N1.27 billion, JAMB said it capped the allocation at N1.1 billion.

Regarding the N850 million budget for fumigation, security, and cleaning, JAMB clarified that the allocation includes salaries for outsourced personnel, procurement of cleaning materials, and operational costs. It further specified that only N2 million of the total is set aside for fumigation services.

The board also addressed questions about its N6.4 billion allocation for local travel and transport, explaining that the expense is mandated by the Budget Information Management Monitoring System (BIMMS) for government-owned enterprises. JAMB emphasized that all its operational and capital costs are covered by internally generated revenue, with the federal government funding only the salaries of pensionable staff.

JAMB reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, stating that the proposed budget reflects operational needs and current economic realities.