JAMB Projects N23.8bn IGR for 2026, Raises Budget to N30.6bn

 

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has set a target of N23.8 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the 2026 fiscal year.

The projected figure represents an increase of about N4 billion compared to the revenue realised in 2025.

A Director of the Board, Dr. Muftau Bello, disclosed this on Wednesday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund on behalf of the Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.

Bello said JAMB’s total budget proposal for 2026 stands at N30.6 billion, explaining that N23.8 billion is expected to be generated internally, while about N6 billion would be remitted to the Federal Government as operating surplus.

He further revealed that in the 2025 fiscal year, the Board generated N18.5 billion and remitted N4 billion to the Federal Government as surplus.

On preparations for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Bello disclosed that JAMB has increased the number of accredited Computer-Based Test centres to 1,000, up from the 800 centres used in 2025, to ensure smoother conduct of the examination nationwide.

Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse, commended the Board for what he described as its impressive performance so far.

However, a member of the committee, Senator Yohanna Amos, urged the Board to consider reducing the N3,500 examination fee charged to candidates.

Responding, Bello noted that the examination fee previously stood at N5,000, adding that it was under the current Registrar, Prof. Oloyede, that the fee was reduced to N3,500 in a bid to ease the burden on candidates and their families.