The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reassured Nigerians that the cost of application documents for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) is unlikely to increase.
In a statement addressing parents, guardians, and prospective candidates, the Board emphasized that it has not raised fees for either UTME or DE in the past nine years. On the contrary, JAMB noted that registration costs have been reduced during the period under the current administration.
The clarification was contained in JAMB’s Weekly Bulletin obtained on Monday. The Board stressed that any future adjustment in fees would only be considered if absolutely necessary to maintain the integrity and quality of its examination processes.
According to JAMB, the policy aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive, communicated through the Minister of Education, that government agencies must operate with a human-centred approach and remain sensitive to the prevailing economic realities faced by Nigerian families.
“This clarification is intended to properly guide members of the public who wish to plan ahead for the education of their children, as the cost implications for the 2026 exercise remain largely the same as those of the previous year,” the Board stated.
JAMB also advised parents and guardians to make early preparations and ensure the timely registration of their wards, noting that the registration window will not be extended once it opens.
Despite the reduction in fees, the Board said it has continued to operate efficiently and prudently, resulting in substantial remittances to the Federal Government over the years. This, it added, reflects its commitment to accountability, transparency, and effective public-sector financial management.
Reaffirming its stance, JAMB stated that it remains committed to fairness, transparency, and affordability, while upholding global best practices in the conduct of its examinations.
The sale of the 2026 UTME application forms is scheduled to run from Friday, January 31, 2026, to Saturday, March 8, 2026.
