“CBT Centres Protest N700 Fee Structure as JAMB Disburses N1.57 Billion to Operators Amid Rising Costs”
Computer Based Test (CBT) centre operators across Nigeria have raised strong concerns over the N700 registration fee allocated per candidate by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), describing the amount as unsustainable amid escalating operational expenses. The development comes as JAMB confirmed the disbursement of N1.57 billion to accredited CBT centres nationwide for services rendered during the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration exercise.
Operators argue that the current fee structure no longer reflects economic realities, citing increased electricity tariffs, diesel prices, internet subscriptions, equipment maintenance, and staffing costs. According to several centre managers, the N700 allocation unchanged despite inflationary pressures falls short of covering the logistics required to maintain reliable digital examination infrastructure, particularly in regions with unstable power supply.
JAMB, however, maintains that the payment aligns with existing agreements designed to keep UTME registration affordable for candidates while ensuring operational efficiency. The examination body stated that the N1.57 billion remittance represents payments to CBT centres for verified registration activities conducted across the country, emphasizing its commitment to transparency and timely compensation for accredited partners.
Education stakeholders note that the disagreement reflects broader tensions within Nigeria’s education technology ecosystem, where service providers struggle to balance cost recovery with accessibility for students. Analysts warn that unresolved funding concerns could affect service quality or discourage investment in CBT infrastructure, which remains central to Nigeria’s standardized tertiary admissions process.
The UTME registration exercise is one of Africa’s largest digital examination operations, involving thousands of centres and millions of candidates annually. Industry observers stress that sustained dialogue between JAMB and operators will be crucial to maintaining efficiency, fairness, and nationwide access to tertiary admissions testing.
Several reputable Nigerian media outlets, including Punch Newspapers, The Guardian Nigeria, Daily Trust, and Vanguard, have reported on the growing dissatisfaction among CBT operators and JAMB’s confirmation of the N1.57 billion disbursement, highlighting the economic pressures shaping Nigeria’s education sectors.