UTME: Senate to allocate budget for JAMB ICT centres

The Nigerian Senate on Friday stated that it will provide a sufficient budget for the 2026 Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, for candidates seeking admission into higher institutions of learning in Nigeria.

This was disclosed by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, noting that the examination, conducted nationwide by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, as a computer-based test, CBT, should conform to global best standards.

Speaking to journalists at Aduvie International School, Jahi, Abuja, during monitoring of the ongoing UTME, the chairman of the committee, Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse from Katsina South, expressed concern over the absence of examination centres in some Local Government Areas across the federation.

The lawmaker remarked that if the Federal Government truly desired Nigerians to study within the country, then access to such education must be prioritised. He emphasised that the UTME process should be made more accessible for applicants aspiring to study in tertiary institutions.

According to him, “In making it easy for candidates seeking admission into universities or other tertiary institutions through UTME, the ICT centres must be made available in all the 774 local government councils across the country.”

He revealed that in his southern senatorial district in Katsina, North-West Nigeria, only two of the 11 local government areas have ICT centres for UTME, a situation he described as a hindrance for applicants.

“Since the Examination is computer based, centres for it need to be made available across the 774 local government councils in the country and in doing this, this committee of the Senate in collaboration with our colleagues in the House of Representatives shall facilitate budgetary provisions for it in 2026 fiscal year,” he said.

Speaking on the challenges faced by JAMB, the board’s spokesman, Dr Fabian Benjamin, informed members of the Senate committee: “JAMB presently has close to 900 ICT centres across the country, and, in fact, precisely 880 centres, which, however, do not cover all the 774 local government councils across the country.

“JAMB shall be happy if the committee facilitates budgetary provisions for establishment of ICT centres in local government councils across the country that are yet to have one.”

The committee, which included senators Jibrin Isah (Kogi East), Diket Plang (Plateau Central), and others on the oversight tour, first visited Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, to monitor the UTME, where its chairman expressed satisfaction with JAMB’s arrangements for the smooth conduct of the examination.