A scheduled investigative hearing at the National Assembly turned chaotic on Tuesday when officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) staged a dramatic walkout during proceedings with the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education.
The tension-filled moment unfolded as committee members sought to scrutinize JAMB's operations and policies. According to parliamentary sources, the walkout occurred amid disagreements over the scope and nature of the questioning directed at the examination body's representatives.
Parliamentary Proceedings Grind to Halt
Eyewitnesses described the scene as unprecedented, with JAMB officials abruptly gathering their documents and exiting the hearing room while committee members looked on in astonishment. The sudden departure left parliamentary business suspended and raised questions about the relationship between the legislative oversight committee and the critical educational institution.
"It was a complete breakdown of parliamentary decorum," one legislative aide commented, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We've never seen such open defiance of a House committee during official proceedings."
Committee Leadership Reacts
The House Committee on Basic Education, chaired by Hon. Obiageli Orogbu, had convened the session to address several matters concerning JAMB's operations, including admission processes, fee structures, and examination integrity. Committee members expressed disappointment at the development, emphasizing their constitutional mandate to oversee government agencies.
"This committee has a responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in our educational system," a committee member stated. "Walking out on legitimate parliamentary oversight sets a dangerous precedent for other government agencies."
JAMB's Position Unclear
While the exact reasons for the walkout remain unspecified, sources suggest JAMB officials may have taken exception to what they perceived as aggressive questioning or procedural overreach by committee members. The examination body has yet to release an official statement explaining their dramatic exit from the National Assembly complex.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between legislative oversight committees and executive agencies in Nigeria's governance structure. Education stakeholders are watching closely to see how this parliamentary standoff will be resolved and what implications it might have for future relations between JAMB and the National Assembly.
As of press time, neither JAMB nor the House Committee had indicated when, or if, the investigative hearing would be rescheduled, leaving important educational matters in limbo and raising broader questions about accountability in Nigeria's educational sector.
