By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Owners and operators of Computer‑Based Test (CBT) centres across Nigeria have criticised the ₦700 registration fee introduced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), arguing that the fee fails to reflect the real costs of delivering the national exam in the current economic climate. The protest emerged on March 10, 2026, during a coordinated complaint voiced at CBT centres in Lagos, Abuja and other major cities, where centre managers challenged the fee structure set by JAMB.
Representatives of the CBT Association said the ₦700 charge was arbitrarily imposed without adequate consultation and does not cover inflation‑driven expenses such as power supply, internet connectivity, generator fuel, equipment maintenance and security arrangements, which they say have risen sharply over the past year. Many operators also argued that the fee could discourage low‑income candidates from registering for the UTME, potentially limiting access to higher education opportunities for students already burdened by economic hardship.
JAMB has previously defended the fee as part of efforts to standardise the registration process and reduce systemic abuses, but CBT operators say the extra costs will erode their profit margins and make centres financially unsustainable. Some have threatened a temporary boycott of the 2026 UTME registration cycle if the board does not revisit the fee structure, prompting fears of disruption to the exam rollout.
Education analysts say the dispute highlights broader tensions between regulatory authorities and service providers in the education sector, especially amid inflation and logistics challenges that complicate exam administration nationwide.
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