JAMB Dismisses UTME Fee Increase Reports, Releases 2026 Revenue Projection – Nigeria News Today
By Enemona Samuel Endurance
Abuja, Nigeria – The Bureau News reports that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has dismissed reports alleging an increase in registration fees for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a statement issued by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, JAMB described the claims as false, misleading, and entirely unfounded.
What JAMB Is Saying
According to JAMB, the approved registration fees remain unchanged as follows:
- Direct Entry (DE): N5,700
- UTME Only (without Mock): N7,200
- UTME with Mock: N8,700
The Board provided a breakdown of the charges:
- N3,500 – Application fee
- N1,000 – Reading text
- N700 – CBT centre registration service charge
- N1,500 – CBT centre UTME service charge
- N500 – Bank charges
- N1,500 – CBT mock-UTME centre charge
The Bureau News confirms that JAMB stated the fees have remained unchanged since 2019.
Background on Fee Structure
The examination body recalled that in 2018, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a reduction of the UTME application fee from N5,000 to N3,500, effective from the 2019 registration exercise.
JAMB urged candidates and parents to disregard unofficial publications and rely only on verified information released through its official platforms and public notices.
The Board further advised candidates who may have paid above the approved fees to report such centres with credible evidence, assuring that disciplinary action would be taken against any centre found culpable.
2026 Revenue Projection and Budget Profile
As part of broader education sector updates monitored by The Bureau News, JAMB disclosed that it has projected N23.8 billion in internally generated revenue for the 2026 fiscal year — representing a N4 billion increase from its 2025 target.
The projection was presented to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund at the National Assembly.
Out of its proposed N30.6 billion budget profile for 2026, the Board stated that N6 billion would be remitted to the Federation Account as operating surplus.
UTME Registration Update and Examination Schedule
JAMB revealed that as of February 17, 2026, more than 1.5 million candidates had registered for the 2026 UTME.
The examination is scheduled to be held nationwide from April 16 to April 25, 2026.
The Board also expanded its accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres to 1,000 nationwide — up from fewer than 800 in 2025 — to improve accessibility and logistics.
Clarification on Undergraduate Eligibility
Addressing circulating claims, JAMB clarified that undergraduates are not barred from registering for the 2026 UTME. However, candidates are required to disclose any existing admission status, warning that failure to do so could result in forfeiture of both previous and new admission offers.
The Board stressed that there will be no extension of the registration deadline.
Additionally, JAMB announced the mandatory use of Microsoft Camera systems at accredited CBT centres to strengthen identity verification and curb impersonation.
This development forms part of broader Nigeria News Today coverage on education reforms and examination transparency efforts.
