The Nigerian Senate has raised concerns over charges imposed by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), questioning their affordability for millions of prospective students across the country.
The lawmakers expressed their reservations during a budget defence session, where they scrutinised the examination body’s financial projections and operational plans.
Members of the Senate noted that even the current Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) fee of about ₦3,500 remains a significant burden for many Nigerian families already struggling under prevailing economic challenges.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions, Mr Amos Yohanna, urged the examination body to consider further reduction of the fee in the interest of equity and access to education.
He stressed that JAMB must prioritise accessibility and fairness in its operations, especially at a time when many households are grappling with rising living costs.
Beyond the issue of charges, the Senate also highlighted operational challenges affecting candidates, including technical glitches during registration and examinations.
Lawmakers further decried the limited number of computer-based test centres in some parts of the country, particularly in rural communities, which they said restricts access and sometimes compels candidates to travel long distances to sit for the examination.
The upper chamber also scrutinised JAMB’s projected revenue, including its plan to generate about ₦23.8 billion internally in 2026.
Senators demanded greater transparency and accountability in the board’s financial operations, insisting that revenue generation should not come at the expense of students and their families.
In response, JAMB officials maintained that the UTME fee had already been reduced from ₦5,000 to ₦3,500 in recent years.
They added that efforts were ongoing to expand CBT centres nationwide and improve the overall conduct of the examination process to make it more seamless and inclusive.
However, the Senate insisted that reforms were necessary to ease the financial pressure on candidates while strengthening the efficiency and credibility of Nigeria’s tertiary admission system.
The debate underscores growing concerns about access to higher education amid economic headwinds, as stakeholders call for policies that balance cost recovery with social responsibility.
