UTME: Curbing Extortion At CBT Centres

As the sale of 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) form registration ends on Wednesday, 22nd February, 2023, extortion of candidates still remains a major issue despite efforts to address it.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) commenced the sale of 2023 UTME form on Saturday, 14th January, 2023, and was expected to close on Tuesday, 14th February, 2023. However, following the inability of candidates to meet up with the deadline, JAMB extended the registration exercise by one week, starting from Wednesday, 15th February, 2023.

By extension, the sale of ePINs would end on Monday, 20th February, 2023, while the UTME registration ends on Wednesday, 22nd February, 2023. But as the registration moved on successfully in most parts of the country, I have gathered that some operators of accredited Computer Based Tests (CBT) centres are extorting money from candidates.

Extortion of candidates has been an issue that is threatening reforms, aimed at improving transparency in JAMB operations. JAMB had severally warned operators of CBT centres to desist from extorting candidates or face severe sanctions. Recently, it suspended two registration agents over extortion of candidates in the ongoing registration exercise for the UTME.

The centres were sanctioned for collecting N6, 500 instead of the approved N5, 700 from candidates for e-form. I also gathered that a breakdown of fees to be paid by candidates for the 2023 UTME, showed that candidates who decide to opt for the mock UTME will pay a total of N6,700, while those who choose not to sit for the mock UTME will pay N5,700.

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Sadly, some centres were collecting N7000 from candidates or more. Even though arrests have been made, the fear remains that in remote areas where the Board may not have direct monitoring, candidates may still be the victim. JAMB also accused Stella Maris School, a private secondary school in Abuja, of extorting candidates to register them for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

It was because of the persistent cases of extortion that JAMB, in 2022 began collecting the registration fee on behalf of the various computer-based testing centers, CBTs, along with their UTME registration fees. However, the board is remitting everything owed to each registration centre to its bank account on a weekly basis or in any time period acceptable to the owners of the centre.

But a parent, Mr Jude Gwaza, whose child registered for UTME at Global Distance Learning Institute, Abuja, called for collective action in tackling the trend.

“I would urge parents, children and their wards to report cases of extortion to the appropriate authorities so as to curtail this. Parents and guardians should also gather credible information about UTME before sending their children to purchase it.”