Heated debate has erupted in Nigeria’s education sector over the ₦700 Computer‑Based Test (CBT) centre registration charge as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) recently confirmed it has remitted ₦1.57 billion to accredited CBT operators for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration exercise.

The Board’s bulletin, signed by Public Communication Adviser Fabian Benjamin, explains that the ₦700 CBT centre registration service charge — one of several fees bundled into the UTME ePIN — was collected centrally from candidates and then disbursed weekly to centres across the country. Under the current arrangement, candidates who purchase an ePIN (already including that charge) can register at any accredited CBT centre without paying additional fees on site.

JAMB insists this cashless system and its “No View, No Pay” policy — which withholds payment to a centre if its registration entries cannot be verified remotely — have reduced abuses and unauthorized levies during the registration period.

Despite official explanations, owners and operators of CBT centres argue the ₦700 service charge no longer reflects the realities of running modern test facilities — especially with rising operating costs and logistical demands.
Advertisement
Caption

CBT proprietors point to the cost of essential infrastructure like laptops, generators and hall rentals, which have risen steeply over the years. Many independent operators say they shoulder staffing, maintenance and utility expenses that far exceed what the fee covers, and they have little control over pricing because JAMB collects the funds centrally before remitting them. This disconnect has fueled growing frustration among centre owners.

Recent coverage from national outlets confirms that the total remitted amount of ₦1.57 billion represents the aggregated value of Individual CBT registration charges paid through candidate ePIN purchases. Most reports emphasise the Board’s efforts to simplify collection and prevent multiple point‑of‑payment abuses — a shift that JAMB says protects candidates and enhances transparency.

However, few media accounts have fully contextualised the long‑standing grievances of CBT operators, who argue the fixed ₦700 fee — which has remained unchanged for nearly a decade — fails to account for inflation, rising utility costs, and expanded regulatory requirements placed on centres.

According to official JAMB fee structures, the 2026 UTME registration ePIN categories include:
• UTME only (without mock): ₦7,200
• UTME with mock: ₦8,700
• Direct Entry: ₦5,700
These totals include application, reading text, CBT registration and service charges, bank charges and optional mock services.

Registration for the 2026 UTME ran from January 26 to February 28, with exams scheduled nationwide from April 16 to April 25. The Direct Entry registration window opened on March 2 and will conclude on April 25.

The controversy highlights a broader tension in Nigeria’s education sector: balancing the need for accessible, transparent examination processes with the financial viability of private service providers who facilitate essential services like CBT logistics and infrastructure. As the UTME season progresses, scrutiny of JAMB’s fee policies and their impact on stakeholders is likely to intensify.