JAMB: New cost of UTME forms to take effect from 2019

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it will commence registration for the 2019/2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in January.

Emmanuel Ndukwe, chairman of the governing board, announced the new date in Abuja on Wednesday during a ceremony to celebrate some staff of the board who retired recently.

The registration fee is N3,500 as approved by the federal government recently.

Ndukwe explained that the reduction followed recommendations made by management and board of JAMB to the government because it was becoming difficult for some parents to raise the N5,000 currently charged by the board.

While commending the government for approving the reduction, Ndukwe said that the reduction may affect the board’s remittance to the federal government in the coming year.

He said: “You are aware that the federal government has reduced the cost of JAMB forms from N5,000 to N3,500 but it is going to take effect from next year.

“Therefore, if we start selling the forms today, we will still sell at the cost of N5,000 because the approval does not cover for now, that is why we have shifted the sale of the forms to any date from first of January.

“It is a very good move from the federal government based on our recommendations.

“Even though we are returning money to the coffers of the federal government, our primary objective is not just to make money.

“That money is coming from somewhere and it is difficult for some people to raise that money and pay for the forms, even though JAMB form is among the cheapest in the whole world.”

Ndukwe said the 2018/2019 admissions had so far been offered to 470,000 candidates while adding that the process was ongoing.