The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has paid a total of ₦1,570,671,200 to Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres that participated in the registration process for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The development was disclosed in a bulletin issued by the examination body and signed by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin.
According to JAMB, the amount represents the ₦700 registration service fee collected from candidates on behalf of CBT centres during the UTME registration exercise.
The board explained that the ₦700 service charge is collected alongside the UTME ePIN registration fee and subsequently remitted directly to accredited CBT centres on a weekly basis.
JAMB stated that, in line with this arrangement, it had successfully transferred ₦1,570,671,200 to CBT centres involved in the 2026 UTME registration process.
The board noted that the system has helped curb exploitation and other abuses previously associated with the registration process, particularly the imposition of illegal charges on candidates. It also said the arrangement has strengthened the adoption of a cashless registration system across many CBT centres, a significant number of which are privately operated.
Under the process, candidates who purchase the UTME ePIN are not expected to make additional payments at CBT centres and are free to complete their registration at any accredited centre nationwide.
To further enforce compliance, JAMB reiterated the implementation of its “No View, No Pay” policy. Under the policy, CBT centres receive payment only after verification that the candidates they registered are valid and visible in the board’s registration database.
The board explained that the policy was introduced to prevent registration irregularities and promote transparency in the exercise.
Registration for the 2026 UTME ended on February 28, while the examination is scheduled to take place nationwide between April 16 and April 25.
Meanwhile, registration for the JAMB Direct Entry programme began on March 2 and will run until April 25, 2026.
