The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has moved to reassure Nigerian families that the cost of registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry will remain unchanged, maintaining a fee structure that has stayed flat for nearly a decade despite rising operational costs and national inflation.
The examination body, in its Weekly Bulletin obtained on Monday, stated that registration fees have not been increased “in the last nine years” under the current administration, and have in fact been reduced for some categories of candidates during that period. The Board emphasised that any future adjustment would only be considered if deemed absolutely necessary to preserve the integrity and quality of the examination process.
“This clarification is provided to properly guide members of the public who wish to plan ahead for the education of their children, as the cost implication for the 2026 exercise remains largely the same as that of the previous year,” JAMB stated in the bulletin.
The announcement comes at a time when many Nigerian households are grappling with steep increases in the cost of living, fuelled by petrol subsidy removal, foreign exchange volatility, and inflationary pressures that have pushed the prices of essential goods and services to record highs. Education-related expenses, including school fees, textbooks, and examination costs, have become a growing burden for families across income brackets.
JAMB’s decision to maintain current pricing aligns with a directive from President Bola Tinubu, communicated through the Minister of Education, that the Board’s operations should reflect the administration’s commitment to “human-face policies” and be sensitive to the economic realities confronting Nigerian families.
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The Board directed its assurance to “parents, guardians, and prospective candidates,” urging them to make early preparations and ensure timely registration of their wards. It warned that the registration window, scheduled to open on Friday, January 31st, 2026, and close on Saturday, March 8th, 2026, would not be extended once the process begins.
JAMB has overseen the conduct of UTME and Direct Entry examinations for decades, serving as the gateway to tertiary education for millions of Nigerian students. The examination body has undergone significant reforms in recent years, particularly since 2016, when the current leadership under Professor Ishaq Oloyede took over. Those reforms included the introduction of computer-based testing, biometric verification, and stricter measures to combat examination malpractice.
Under Professor Oloyede’s tenure, JAMB has also gained recognition for its financial transparency and accountability, regularly remitting substantial revenues to the Federal Government—a departure from previous administrations where the Board’s finances were often opaque. The remittances have included billions of naira from examination fees, proceeds from the sale of application documents, and recoveries from previously unaccounted funds.
In the bulletin, JAMB reaffirmed this track record, noting that despite the “downward review of fees,” it has continued to operate “efficiently and prudently,” resulting in substantial remittances to the Federal Government over the years.
“This underscores JAMB’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and effective public-sector financial management,” the Board stated.
The stability in JAMB’s pricing contrasts sharply with increases observed in other areas of Nigeria’s education sector. Many tertiary institutions, both public and private, have raised tuition fees significantly in recent months, citing rising operational costs, currency devaluation, and dwindling government subventions. Students and parent groups have protested some of these hikes, warning that they risk pushing university education further out of reach for ordinary Nigerians.
JAMB’s pricing policy has historically been a subject of public debate. In 2017, the Board reduced the cost of UTME registration from ₦5,000 to ₦3,500, a move that was widely welcomed by stakeholders. The introduction of a standard ₦700 reading text fee and the elimination of opaque charges by accredited centres were also part of the reforms aimed at reducing the financial burden on candidates.
The Board has maintained this pricing structure since then, even as inflation has eroded the purchasing power of the naira and operational costs for logistics, technology infrastructure, and personnel have risen.
JAMB’s commitment to keeping fees accessible is also linked to its broader mandate to democratise access to tertiary education. Nigeria’s population of exam-age candidates continues to grow, and the Board processes over two million registrations annually for UTME and Direct Entry combined. Any significant fee increase would likely trigger widespread public backlash and could disproportionately affect candidates from low-income backgrounds.
The Board’s statement also serves as a pre-emptive measure against speculation and misinformation. In previous years, rumours of fee hikes have circulated on social media and through informal channels, creating confusion among parents and prospective candidates. By issuing a clear statement months ahead of the 2026 registration period, JAMB appears to be seeking to forestall such uncertainty.
“JAMB remains committed to fairness, transparency, and affordability while sustaining global best practices in the conduct of its examinations,” the Board stated.
The 2026 UTME will be the latest in a series of examinations conducted under increasingly challenging economic conditions. The Board has had to balance the need to maintain standards, invest in technology, and ensure security, all while keeping costs low for candidates. The continued freeze on fees suggests that JAMB is prioritising social considerations over revenue maximisation, a stance that aligns with the Tinubu administration’s stated focus on easing the economic burden on citizens.
As the January 31st registration date approaches, education stakeholders, civil society groups, and parents are expected to monitor the process closely. The success of the 2026 UTME will depend not only on the affordability of the examination but also on the Board’s ability to deliver a credible, transparent, and accessible process across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
For now, Nigerian families can plan their education budgets with the assurance that JAMB’s fees will remain stable, even as other costs continue to climb.
