The National Association of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) branch of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has emphasised that staff welfare is paramount and should benefit all employees, not a select few.

Andrew Onakpa, chairman of the NASU branch, said this in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of a health walk organised by the board in preparation for its 2025 activities.

Mr Onakpa lauded the efforts of JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede, describing his attention to staff welfare as humane and beneficial.

He explained that the welfare committee of the board had previously agreed to extend the free lunch programme, initially available only to staff at the headquarters, to over 40 JAMB offices nationwide.

“Our union leaders are always involved in all decision-making processes related to staff welfare packages. The registrar does not act alone; his intentions are to improve the lives of workers.

“At the headquarters, we have enjoyed free meals since his resumption, and that was why the welfare committee requested that this benefit be extended to staff at the outstations.

“We have over 2,000 staff in 44 offices across the nation. When you multiply that amount, the total will certainly be significant, but it’s not that he intends to misuse the funds.

“In the past, we were denied many benefits, but since he took office, he has made positive changes. Now, with the recent backlash from the National Assembly, we are concerned that these efforts may be discontinued,” Mr Onakpa said.

Mr Onakpa reassured that decisions on staff welfare were made collaboratively, with union leaders involved in the process.

He also expressed concern that the recent backlash from the National Assembly might cause the registrar to discontinue these welfare efforts. However, he prayed that Mr Oloyede would continue his “good work” despite criticisms.

Similarly, Ebenezer Ayalibola, chairman of the Association of Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), JAMB branch, clarified that the agreed amounts for staff lunches nationwide were a collective decision made by the welfare committee and the registrar, not a unilateral decision by Mr Oloyede.

He also explained that the reported N1.1 billion spent on meals and N850 million for fumigation covered various services, including cleaning and security at JAMB offices nationwide.

“This includes staff at the outstations. If you multiply that amount per month by 12, the total will definitely be high.

“That was the aggregate amount that led to the N1.1 billion, which was a decision made by the JAMB welfare committee and the registrar, not just by him alone.

“As for the fumigation, the funds were not only for fumigation but also covered cleaning services and security for a year at all our offices nationwide.

“The total of all the salaries for our contractors providing these services is what constituted the N850 million,” he explained.

Mr Ayalibola expressed disappointment over the National Assembly’s scrutiny and hoped it wouldn’t hinder the registrar’s ability to continue providing welfare packages for staff.

During its budget defence session, the National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance, with the registrar of JAMB in attendance, raised concerns about the examination body’s spending.

They alleged that JAMB spent N1.1 billion on meals and N850 million on fumigation, alongside other claims of “outrageous infractions.”

The committee, however, later cleared JAMB of the financial impropriety that had previously been levelled against the examination body.

(NAN)