No Increase In UTME Fees, JAMB Clarifies

JAMB Debunks Social Media Claims on Fee Hike

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has dismissed reports suggesting that it has increased registration fees for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The examination body described the claims circulating on social media as false, misleading and entirely unfounded, stressing that its fee structure has remained unchanged since 2019.

JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, issued the clarification on Friday in Abuja, urging candidates and parents to rely only on official communications from the Board.

Breakdown of Approved Fees

According to JAMB, the approved charges are as follows:

• Direct Entry (DE): ₦5,700

• UTME only (without Mock): ₦7,200

• UTME with Mock: ₦8,700

Benjamin provided a detailed breakdown of the UTME (without mock) registration cost:

• Application Fee – ₦3,500

• Reading Text – ₦1,000

• CBT Centre Registration Service Charge – ₦700

• CBT Centre UTME Service Charge – ₦1,500

• Bank Charges – ₦500

For candidates opting for the mock examination, an additional ₦1,500 CBT Mock-UTME Centre charge applies.

He reiterated that these charges have remained constant since 2019.

Fee Reduction Approved in 2018

JAMB recalled that in 2018, the Federal Executive Council approved a reduction in the UTME application fee from ₦5,000 to ₦3,500, a policy that took effect from the 2019 registration exercise.

Since that adjustment, the Board said it has maintained the same pricing structure despite rising operational and administrative costs.

“The Board has not increased its fees,” Benjamin stated, adding that the insinuations online were inaccurate.

Warning Against Exploitation

JAMB advised prospective candidates to carefully read its official advertisements and verify information through its recognised platforms to avoid falling victim to misinformation.

The Board also urged candidates who may have paid more than the approved fees to report such cases immediately, with credible evidence, to enable investigation and disciplinary action against any centre found guilty of overcharging.

JAMB reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and the protection of candidates’ interests, warning that any CBT centre engaging in sharp practices would face sanctions.

As the registration process continues, the Board emphasised that all official updates would be communicated through its verified channels.