Operational costs for Computer Based Test centres have skyrocketed, prompting proprietors to demand a review of the N700 registration service charge. Austin Ohaekelem, President of the Computer Based Test Centres Proprietors Association of Nigeria, highlighted that essential logistics and equipment have become significantly more expensive. He noted that a functional laptop now costs about N150,000, while rent for a 250 capacity hall in Lagos can reach N5 million annually.
“The cost of registering a candidate as of 2016, when I joined the CBT programme, was N700. Ten years later, it is still N700,” Ohaekelem stated.
He argued that the stagnant fee is unsustainable given the inflation rate and cost of living. The association revealed that centres do not collect this fee directly but receive weekly reimbursements from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board. “What JAMB does is refund the money every week. It’s not like we collect it ourselves. The candidate registers, we pay JAMB, and then we get reimbursed,” he explained.
Ohaekelem expressed frustration that their plea to the Education Minister has not received a response. “We are integral to the education sector, yet often seen as a pressure group rather than partners,” he noted.
This complaint follows the announcement by JAMB that it has remitted N1,570,671,200 to accredited centres for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination registration. The Board clarified that this sum represents the accumulated N700 charges. JAMB defended its fee structure, maintaining that it has remained unchanged since 2018 to curb exploitation. A bulletin signed by Fabian Benjamin emphasized the transparency of the cashless policy and the “No View, No Pay” mechanism.
“This monitoring mechanism forms part of the Board’s broader technological innovations aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability and strict adherence to registration guidelines,” the bulletin read.
Under the current fee structure, JAMB charges N7,200 for UTME only and N8,700 for UTME with mock. The breakdown includes an Application Fee of N3,500, Reading Text at N1,000, CBT Centre Registration Service Charge at N700, CBT Centre UTME Service Charge at N1,500, and Bank Charges of N500.
Leave a Comment