The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disbursed a total of N1,570,671,200 to Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres that participated in the registration process for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Akahi News gathered that the payment represents the N700 registration service fee collected on behalf of CBT centres from candidates during the UTME registration exercise.
According to a bulletin issued by the examination body and signed by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, the Board collects the registration service charge alongside the UTME ePIN fee and subsequently remits the appropriate amount to accredited CBT centres on a weekly basis.
Cashless Registration Policy Strengthened
The Board explained that the payment arrangement forms part of its broader efforts to curb exploitation and eliminate illegal charges often imposed on candidates during registration.
Akahi News learnt that under the system, candidates who purchase the UTME ePIN are not expected to pay any additional fee at CBT centres, as the registration service charge is already embedded in the official payment structure.
By centrally collecting and distributing the fee, the Board said it has significantly reduced opportunities for malpractice, particularly the imposition of unauthorised charges by operators of registration centres.
The policy has also helped to strengthen the cashless registration system, a development that has become particularly important as many of the CBT centres involved in the exercise are privately owned facilities.
‘No View, No Pay’ Policy Introduced
To further improve accountability, the examination body reiterated that it introduced a monitoring mechanism known as the “No View, No Pay” policy.
Under this arrangement, payments are only made to CBT centres after verification that the candidates registered by the centres are valid and visible in JAMB’s central registration database.
Officials explained that the policy was designed to prevent registration irregularities and ensure transparency in the handling of candidates’ data.
Akahi News gathered that the measure has also helped the Board track compliance among accredited centres and discourage practices capable of undermining the credibility of the UTME registration process.
UTME Registration Closes as Exam Date Nears
The Board confirmed that registration for the 2026 UTME closed on February 28, while the examination itself is scheduled to take place nationwide between April 16 and April 25, 2026.
Meanwhile, the Direct Entry (DE) registration exercise, which caters to candidates seeking admission into universities through qualifications such as diplomas and A-level certificates, commenced on March 2 and is expected to end on April 25, 2026.
Observers say the financial transparency introduced by the Board may further strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process. Yet, questions still arise: Will stricter digital monitoring finally eliminate registration fraud completely? And can technological reforms continue to keep pace with the growing number of candidates seeking university admission each year?
For millions of Nigerian students preparing for the examination, the hope remains that the system will continue to evolve in a way that guarantees fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity for all applicants.
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Joseph Iyaji is a journalist, educator, and founder of Akahi G. International, Akahi Tutors, and Akahi News. Read more about him here: https://akahinews.org/Joseph/
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