The Nigerian Senate has grilled the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over the affordability of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) charges, insisting on further relief measures for students amid widespread economic hardship.
During a recent budget defence session before the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, lawmakers expressed deep concerns that the current UTME registration fee approximately ₦3,500 continues to place a heavy financial burden on many prospective candidates and their families.
This comes despite JAMB's earlier reduction of the fee from ₦5,000 to the present amount.Senator Amos Yohanna, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions (PDP, Adamawa North), led the charge, questioning the justification for the fees and urging JAMB to prioritize accessibility, fairness, and further reductions to ease the strain on struggling households.
He highlighted additional pain points, including frequent technical glitches during registration and exams, difficulties accessing the JAMB portal, and limited availability of Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, especially in rural areas.
JAMB officials, in response, defended their position by noting the recent fee cut and outlining ongoing efforts to expand CBT centres nationwide now numbering around 1,000, up from fewer than 800 previously to improve logistics and inclusivity.
They also addressed the board's projected internally generated revenue of about ₦23.8 billion for 2026 (an increase from ₦18.5 billion in 2025), with a portion remitted to the Federation Account, while emphasizing transparency in financial operations.
The Senate demanded broader reforms to make the admission process more inclusive and less burdensome, balancing JAMB's revenue needs with its core responsibility of ensuring equitable access to tertiary education.
No immediate policy changes were announced, but the session underscored growing pressure for student-friendly adjustments in the face of Nigeria's tough economic realities.
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