The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has issued a stern warning to examination agencies, cautioning them against any form of obstruction, intimidation, or blackmail aimed at frustrating the constitutional oversight duties of Parliament.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Oforji Oboku, delivered the warning on Monday during the 2026 budget defence session with heads of examination bodies, reaffirming the panel’s resolve to enforce transparency and accountability across Nigeria’s educational assessment system.
“The Committee will not tolerate intimidation or blackmail aimed at preventing it from performing its legitimate constitutional duties,” Oboku declared.
He stressed that under Sections 80 and 81 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the National Assembly is empowered to scrutinise the financial records, project implementation, and budget proposals of agencies under its oversight.
The Chairman expressed concern over delays in the submission of critical documents required for legislative review, describing such lapses as impediments to effective oversight and public accountability.
Oboku also underscored the pivotal role examination bodies play in shaping the future of Nigerian children, noting that the integrity of public examinations remains fundamental to national development.
He referenced the controversies that trailed last year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, describing the incidents as embarrassing and damaging to the credibility of Nigerian educational certificates.
“The Parliament will not sit back and allow such unacceptable situations to recur,” he warned.
While dismissing claims of witch-hunting, the Committee Chairman maintained that the panel is committed to fostering a constructive and professional working relationship with all agencies, provided they comply with extant laws and oversight requirements.
In its resolutions, the Committee approved the 2026 budget proposal of the West African Examinations Council, commending the body for its performance in implementing the 2025 budget.
However, the Committee resolved to invite the National Examinations Council, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board for a more comprehensive budget defence at a later date.
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The panel said the move would enable the agencies to address concerns relating to their 2025 budget performance and strengthen their 2026 proposals.
The Committee assured that the House of Representatives would continue to pursue reforms aimed at strengthening examination processes and safeguarding the educational future of Nigerian students.
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