Senate Queries Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Over UTME Charges, Demands Relief for Students

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, or JAMB, levied fees that the Nigerian Senate has expressed grave reservations about, raising doubts about their affordability for students nationwide.

Lawmakers criticized the cost of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) during a budget defense session, emphasizing that many Nigerian families are already struggling financially.

The Senate pointed out that many potential candidates still find the existing price, which is roughly ₦3,500, to be a hardship.

Mr. Amos Yohanna, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions, demanded that the examination fee be further lowered and urged JAMB to put accessibility and equity at the forefront of its operations.

In addition to the charge issue, the Senate identified issues that candidates face, such as “technical glitches during registration and examinations” and restricted access to Computer Based Test (CBT) centers, especially in rural areas.

The Senate demanded more accountability and transparency in JAMB’s financial operations and questioned the organization’s predicted revenue, especially its estimate of generating almost ₦23.8 billion internally in 2026.

In response, JAMB officials insisted that the UTME price had already been lowered from ₦5,000 to ₦3,500 and stated that efforts were being made to increase the number of CBT centers across the country and enhance the examination procedure in general.

However, the Senate pushed on changes that would guarantee a more effective and inclusive admissions process while reducing the financial burden on students.