Two labor unions at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the National Association of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) have come out in full support of the proposed N1.1 billion allocation for staff feeding in the 2025 budget.
According to the unions, this initiative is vital for improving productivity across JAMB’s workforce. The unions clarified that the budget covers over 2,300 staff members across 44 JAMB offices nationwide, ensuring that everyone gets a share of the free lunch initiative, previously limited to headquarters.
The Justification: Free Lunch for Productivity
Speaking at a health walk in Abuja to launch JAMB’s 2025 activities, NASU JAMB Chapter Chairman Andrew Onakpa defended the feeding plan. He emphasized that the initiative is part of the Registrar’s commitment to staff welfare and should be encouraged rather than criticized.
Onakpa argued that the improved feeding scheme is essential for boosting staff performance and morale.
He noted, “We have over 2,300 staff in more than 44 offices nationwide. When you calculate the cost of feeding across all working days in a year, the figure is understandably significant. It’s not about mismanagement; it’s about improving welfare.”
The unions also in justification of the 1.1 billion feeding plan, mentioned that staff were actively involved in negotiating with food vendors to ensure transparency and fairness in the process.
The Mathematics Behind N1.1 Billion
ASCSN JAMB Branch Chairman Ebenezer Ayalibola elaborated on the feeding budget, explaining that the N2,200 daily meal cost per staff member for 12 months was carefully calculated. He pointed out that the N1.1 billion figure wasn’t arbitrary but a product of meticulous planning by JAMB’s welfare committee.
“This includes staff in outstations. If you multiply the agreed amount per staff per day across 12 months, the figure will naturally add up to N1.1 billion. This was a collective decision by the welfare committee, not the Registrar acting alone,” Ayalibola stated.
N850 Million for Fumigation and More
The unions also addressed the N850 million allocated for fumigation in the 2025 budget, clarifying that the amount covers more than just pest control. According to Ayalibola, the figure includes cleaning services, security, and contractor salaries for all JAMB offices nationwide.
“These costs include the salaries of contractors providing these essential services,” Ayalibola explained, adding that this comprehensive approach ensures a clean, safe, and productive working environment for JAMB staff.
The Rising Cost of Welfare
JAMB claims that rising food prices caused an increase in the food budget proposal, pushing daily meal costs from N1,200 to N2,200. In a chivalrous move, the unions added that the original projection for the feeding scheme was N1.27 billion, but JAMB settled on N1.1 billion to “save costs.”
Not only that, the unions insisted that these welfare measures, which are part of JAMB’s Condition of Service, are periodically reviewed and subject to National Assembly approval.
Critics Raise Concerns, But Unions Stand Firm
JAMB’s feeding and fumigation budgets have faced criticism from the National Assembly, with some questioning the necessity of such high allocations. However, the unions warn that failing to approve these initiatives could jeopardize staff welfare and ultimately affect productivity.
With JAMB championing welfare as the key to workplace efficiency, the question remains: Is this billion-naira feeding budget a necessary investment in productivity or an extravagant indulgence? For now, the staff can look forward to a well-fed year.
