The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has refuted claims circulating about an increase in the registration fees for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), describing the reports as false, misleading, and completely unfounded.
In a statement issued in Abuja by its Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Board said it had taken note of a publication suggesting that it had raised the cost of UTME registration. JAMB clarified that no such review has taken place.
According to the Board, its approved registration charges have remained unchanged since 2019. The current fees stand at ₦5,700 for Direct Entry (DE) candidates, ₦7,200 for UTME candidates without the mock examination, and ₦8,700 for candidates who choose to sit for the UTME with the optional mock examination.
JAMB further explained that the fee structure includes an application fee of ₦3,500, a ₦1,000 reading text fee, ₦700 CBT centre registration service charge, ₦1,500 CBT centre UTME service charge, ₦500 bank charges, and ₦1,500 for the optional mock UTME centre service charge.
The Board recalled that in 2018, the Federal Executive Council approved a reduction of the UTME application fee from ₦5,000 to ₦3,500, a decision that was implemented starting from the 2019 registration exercise.
Despite rising operational expenses over the years, JAMB stated that it has continued to maintain the same government-approved fee structure in consideration of candidates and their families.
The Board therefore urged prospective candidates, parents, and guardians to disregard the misleading report and rely solely on information disseminated through its official communication channels and verified advertisements.
It also advised candidates to thoroughly review the official registration guidelines to avoid falling prey to fraudulent individuals or centres attempting to exploit applicants.
JAMB appealed to any candidate who may have been charged above the approved fees to report such centres immediately with credible evidence, assuring that strict disciplinary action would be taken against any facility found culpable of overcharging or engaging in unethical practices.
The examination body reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the protection of candidates’ interests at all times.
