The Nigerian Senate has expressed grave worries over fees levied by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, or JAMB, raising doubts about how affordable they are for students nationwide.
The expense of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, or UTME, was criticized by MPs during a budget defense session, emphasizing that many Nigerian families are already facing financial difficulties.
Many potential candidates still find the present price, which is approximately ₦3,500, to be a burden, according to the Senate.
In his appeal for a further examination fee reduction, Mr. Amos Yohanna, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions, urged JAMB to put accessibility and equity at the forefront of its operations.
In addition to the charges, 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.
Demanding more accountability and transparency in JAMB’s financial operations, the senate also questioned the organization’s estimated revenue, particularly its goal to produce 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 also lessening the financial burden on students.
