UTME 2025: Senate to Allocate Budget for New JAMB ICT Centres Across Nigeria

The Nigerian Senate has announced plans to provide sufficient budgetary support for the establishment of more ICT centres to conduct future Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) across all parts of the country.

This was disclosed by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND on Friday, April 25, 2025, during a monitoring exercise of the ongoing UTME.

Senate Promises Better Access for UTME Candidates

Speaking at Aduvie International School, Jahi, Abuja, the Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse from Katsina South, emphasized the need to expand access to JAMB examination centres nationwide.

He expressed concern that many Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria still lack CBT centres, making it difficult for candidates in rural areas to participate easily.

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

He pointed out that in his own senatorial district in Katsina State, only two out of eleven LGAs have ICT centres for JAMB, describing the situation as a major hindrance to education access.

Budgetary Support Coming in 2026

Senator Dandutse assured that the Senate, in collaboration with the House of Representatives, would facilitate budgetary provisions in the 2026 fiscal year to establish ICT centres across all local governments that currently lack one.

“Since the examination is computer-based, centres for it need to be made available across all the 774 local government councils,” he added.

JAMB Welcomes the Move

Responding to the Senate committee during the oversight visit, JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, acknowledged that:

• JAMB currently operates about 880 ICT centres nationwide.
• However, these centres do not yet cover all the 774 local government areas.

Dr Benjamin said JAMB would gladly welcome government support to expand its reach and make UTME centres available to candidates in every LGA.

Committee Praises JAMB’s Conduct

The Senate committee, which also included Senator Jibrin Isah (Kogi East), Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central), and others, first visited Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, to monitor the ongoing UTME.
They expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the examination at the centers visited.

Final Words

This new promise from the Senate brings hope that no Nigerian student will be left behind in future JAMB examinations due to lack of access.
If successful, by 2026, candidates from even the most remote villages could write their UTME in their own local government areas without the stress of long-distance travel.

It’s a step towards fairer, more accessible education for all.