A review of a bulletin published by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) by SaharaReporters has revealed that the board spent over N14 million on staff meals within a three-week period.
According to the financial breakdown, between May 3 and May 9, 2025, JAMB disbursed a total of N5.836 million on staff meals. Of this amount, Assorted Buka received N368,480, Salaudeen Afusat Odun was paid N1.118 million, and Soochi Restaurant got N4.350 million.
In the previous week, from April 26 to May 2, the bulletin showed that Umar Food Concepts received N1.482 million, while Soochi Restaurant was again paid N1.139 million, bringing that week’s total to N2.621 million.
The figures indicate that JAMB spent over N8.4 million on staff meals in just two weeks, contributing to a total expenditure of N14 million over three weeks, according to the board’s records.
Financial records from April 19 to April 25, 2025, reveal that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) disbursed ₦6.264 million for staff meals. Payments included ₦2.045 million to Assorted Buka, ₦1.556 million to Umma Food Concepts, ₦1.616 million to Salaudeen Afusat Odun, and ₦1.053 million to Soochie Restaurant and Catering Services.
Altogether, from April 19 to May 9, 2025, JAMB spent approximately ₦14.7 million on staff meals.
This follows the board’s controversial proposal of ₦1.1 billion for staff meals in the 2025 fiscal year—a figure that sparked public debate.
In its defence, JAMB told the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Finance during a budget hearing on January 13, 2025, that the allocation was aimed at boosting staff productivity and safeguarding critical ICT infrastructure.
Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s spokesperson, stated that the initiative, which will provide daily meals for all 2,300 staff members nationwide, including cleaners and security personnel, was designed to address longstanding requests from employees in outstation offices.
He noted that the programme also reduces staff exposure to public spaces during work hours, safeguarding the operational environment.
A bulletin published by the board and seen by SaharaReporters noted that it ought to budget N1.27 billion on meals for 2025 but reduced the amount to N1.1 billion.
