The President of the Computer Based Test Centres Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Austin Ohaekelem, has criticized the ₦700 registration service charge for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, describing it as "grossly inadequate". He argued that the fee has failed to reflect the economic realities and inflation that have plagued the country over the last decade.
Ohaekelem highlighted the financial strain on operators, noting that the fee has remained static since 2016 despite the surge in operational costs. He pointed out that the logistics and tools required to run these centres have become significantly more expensive.
"The cost of registering a candidate as of 2016, when I joined the CBT programme, was ₦700. Ten years later, it is still ₦700," Ohaekelem stated.
He detailed the rising cost of operations, noting that a laptop capable of serving the centre for three years now costs at least ₦150,000. He added that renting a 250 capacity hall in Lagos costs between ₦3 million and ₦5 million annually. He questioned how operators are expected to sustain their businesses given these expenses.
"This is apart from additional requirements, stipulations that change almost every year, and the logistics and tools we need to run these centres. You and I know the cost of living and the inflation rate, yet we are still being asked to charge ₦700," he lamented.
Furthermore, Ohaekelem explained the constraints of the payment system. He clarified that centres do not collect the fee directly but pay JAMB first and receive reimbursement weekly. "What JAMB does is refund the money every week. We don’t collect it ourselves. The candidate registers, we pay JAMB, and then we get reimbursed," he explained.
He expressed dismay that the association’s letter to the Education Minister regarding these grievances remains unanswered. "We are integral to the education sector, yet often seen as a pressure group rather than partners," he noted.
In response, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board defended its stance, stating that the fee structure has remained unchanged since 2018 to protect candidates from exploitation. The Board recently announced the remittance of ₦1,570,671,200 to accredited centres, representing the accumulated ₦700 fees collected on their behalf for the 2026 exercise.
A bulletin signed by Public Communication Advisor Fabian Benjamin highlighted the success of the cashless policy and the "No View, No Pay" system. "This monitoring mechanism forms part of the Board’s broader technological innovations aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability and strict adherence to registration guidelines," the bulletin read.
Under the current arrangement, JAMB charges ₦7,200 for UTME only and ₦8,700 for UTME with mock. The breakdown includes an Application Fee of ₦3,500, Reading Text at ₦1,000, CBT Centre Registration Service Charge at ₦700, CBT Centre UTME Service Charge at ₦1,500, and Bank Charges of ₦500.
