JAMB Makes N1.57bn, CBT Operators Slam N700 Registration Fee

The Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centres Proprietors Association of Nigeria has raised concerns over the N700 registration service charge for candidates participating in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), describing it as “grossly inadequate” given rising operational costs and logistical demands. According to Ireporter Online, the association’s President, Austin Ohaekelem, spoke on Monday following the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) announcement that it had disbursed N1.57 billion to accredited CBT centres for the UTME registration exercise.

JAMB, through its Public Communication Advisor Fabian Benjamin, explained that the sum represents the N700 fee collected from candidates on behalf of CBT centres, remitted weekly alongside ePIN registration charges. “In line with this arrangement, the Board has remitted a total sum of N1,570,671,200 to the CBT centres that participated in the 2026 UTME registration exercise,” the bulletin read.

The board maintained that its fee structure has remained unchanged since 2018 and warned against overcharging by centres. Current UTME fees stand at N7,200 for standard registration, N8,700 for UTME with mock, and N5,700 for Direct Entry. The breakdown includes an application fee of N3,500, reading text N1,000, CBT centre registration service charge N700, UTME service charge N1,500, bank charges N500, and a CBT mock-UTME centre charge of N1,500.

Ohaekelem, however, insisted that the N700 service fee no longer aligns with the realities of operating CBT centres. He noted that while the fee has remained the same for over a decade, operational costs—including equipment, staff, fuel, rent, and maintenance—have surged. “A laptop sufficient for three years costs at least N150,000. For 3,000 candidates, that’s N2.1 million. Rent for a 250-capacity hall can range from N3 million in Lagos to N5 million in Ebute Metta annually,” he said. He added that centres cannot collect the fee directly from candidates but are reimbursed weekly by JAMB, complicating cash flow.

Highlighting human resource demands, Ohaekelem said centres must hire staff to coordinate registrations, supervise exams, and manage logistics, all while operating under a fee unchanged in ten years. He also lamented that CBT centres, despite their integral role in the education sector, struggle for recognition from authorities. “We even wrote to the Education Minister last year, but we’ve yet to get a response,” he said.

In defense, JAMB stated that its cashless registration system reduces abuses, prevents unauthorized charges, and ensures transparency. Candidates purchase UTME ePINs and register at accredited centres without additional payments. The board also enforces a “No View, No Pay” policy, withholding payment to centres if registration activities cannot be remotely monitored from Abuja. Payment is released only after centres correct anomalies.

The 2026 UTME registration concluded on February 28, with examinations scheduled nationwide from April 16 to 25. Direct Entry registration began on March 2 and will end on April 25. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, clarified that the board is not responsible for NYSC mobilisation of HND graduates from part-time or non-regular programmes, emphasizing that eligibility for NYSC requires full-time study.

Oloyede also noted that admissions are processed through the automated Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), ensuring transparency, preventing multiple admissions, and restoring institutional autonomy. He criticized some “Daily Part-Time” HND programmes and institutions that bypass CAPS as exploitative, adding that irregular admissions contribute to NYSC rejections. “If institutions follow the proper process, there would be no problem. On our part, we will continue to render quality service beneficial to all stakeholders,” he said.