2026 UTME: JAMB Urges Candidates To Ensure Timely Registration, Says No Extension Of March 31 Deadline

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has urged parents and guardians to make early arrangements and ensure the timely registration of their wards, noting that the registration period will not be extended once it begins

JAMB had fixed between Friday, January 31, 2026 and Saturday, March 8, 2026 for the sale of application form for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME )

The board made this known in its Weekly Bulletin, obtained on Monday 

The board, however assured Nigerians that the cost of application documents for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry is unlikely to increase.

The Board assured “parents, guardians, and prospective candidates” that it has not raised fees for either UTME or DE “in the last nine years.”

In fact, registration costs have been “reduced for prospective candidates within the nine years of the existence of the current administration,” the statement stated.

JAMB making the clarification, stressed that any increase in the future would only occur if absolutely necessary to sustain the integrity and quality of the examination process.

The Board explained that this policy aligns with the directive of President Bola Tinubu, conveyed through the Minister of Education, that its activities must reflect the administration’s human-face policies and take into account the economic realities facing Nigerian families.

"This clarification is provided to properly guide members of the public who wish to plan ahead for the education of their children, as the cost implication for the 2026 exercise remains largely the same as that of the previous year,” the Board stated.

Despite this downward review of fees, the Board has continued to operate efficiently and prudently, resulting in substantial remittances to the Federal Government over the years.

This underscores JAMB’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and effective public-sector financial management.

“JAMB remains committed to fairness, transparency, and affordability while sustaining global best practices in the conduct of its examinations,” it stated.