JAMB says upped UTME fee is due to cashless policy at CBT centres

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says the perceived increase in the cost of registering for its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is due to the enforcement of a cashless policy at CBT centres.

Earlier in January, JAMB revealed that it was vigorously pursuing a cashless policy to curb extortion at CBT centres.

Ishaq Oloyede, its registrar, said the board would collect all registration fees and subsequently remit what is due to the CBT centres.

Last week, JAMB said N7,700 will be paid for UTME registration inclusive of a mock exam ahead of its 2024 run.

The exam body added that, excluding a mock exam, N6,200 is to be paid by the candidates.

Before the recent adjustment, the cost of the JAMB form without a mock exam was N5,700.

In turn, the application form inclusive of a mock exam used to be priced at N6,700.

The perceived adjustment prompted reports that the board had increased its registration fee.

But JAMB stated on Wednesday that the actual cost of its registration form remains unchanged.

The board, in a statement, said the perceived increase in the overall cost of registration is due to its enforcement of the cashless policy.

“What is being perceived in some quarters as an increment in its fees is nothing other than the fallout of the cashless policy through which all fees payable by candidates to CBT centres have been consolidated,” the board’s statement reads in part.

JAMB said transaction fees now are paid along with application fees to prevent exploitation.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the 2024 UTME/DE e-PIN remains N3500,” the board added.

“The registration fee of N700, which is to be paid to CBT centres by candidates, is now to be collected by the Board along with N1500, which is the cost for sitting for the main UTME.

“N1500 is the cost of the optional Mock-UTME is to be collected by the board on behalf of the CBT centres.”

“The board wishes to state that the cost of application documents has not been increased despite the prevailing economic reality in the country which has also affected the cost of the board’s operations.”