…allege systemic closing down of business
The Computer-Based Test Centre Proprietors Association of Nigeria (CPAN) has decried the rising costs of operation amid unchanged registration fees, a situation, they said, no longer reflects the realities of running modern examination facilities.
The association members called on Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, and the House of Representatives Committee on education to urgently intervene in what they described as systemic challenges and administrative injustices affecting its members across the country.
In an open letter addressed to the minister and the National Assembly, the association said some policies by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board have made the operation of computer-based test centres unsustainable.
This was made known in a letter signed by Austin Ohaekelem, the national president at CPAN, and Mustapha Omolabi, the secretary, who emphasised that several attempts to engage relevant authorities over the past months had failed to yield results.
“CBT centres play a critical role in the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, serving as the backbone for digital examinations in the country,” the association noted.
Read also: JAMB warns CBT centres against overcharging
The association leaders noted that despite the critical roles of CPAN, rising operational costs, particularly the high cost of diesel and power generation, have eroded profitability.
They emphasised that the N700 registration fee paid to centres since 2015 has remained unchanged despite inflation, which is ‘systematically killing the business.
“Expenses relating to diesel, internet bandwidth, hardware upgrades, security, and staffing have increased drastically, making the current pricing model unrealistic,” the letter stated.
CPAN also alleged widespread withholding of payments for services rendered during the 2025 UTME and 2026 registration exercises, citing cases involving centres in Anambra State that were reportedly unpaid after conducting resit examinations.
It further decried what it described as the arbitrary delisting of centres, citing the example of a CBT centre in Osun State that was sanctioned following a router theft incident despite providing police reports and other documentation.
According to the association, sanctions imposed by JAMB are often carried out without fair hearing, proper investigation, or a transparent disciplinary framework.
The group also faulted penalties linked to the loss of JAMB-issued equipment, describing them as excessive, and criticised the lack of compensation for mandatory system testing exercises that consume fuel and manpower.
It added that the current payment structure, which is based on the number of candidates who attend examinations rather than the number scheduled, is unfair and financially unsustainable.
Read also: ITF receives approval to establish CBT centre in Abuja
The association said it had earlier written to the minister and the National Assembly between August and October 2025 through its legal representatives but received no response.
CPAN, therefore, demanded immediate payment of all outstanding arrears, a review of the payment model, compensation for operational costs, and the reinstatement of centres it described as wrongfully delisted.
Other demands include the establishment of a transparent disciplinary process, an independent audit of JAMB’s administrative practices, and the creation of a stakeholder engagement framework.
The association warned that continued neglect of its concerns could disrupt Nigeria’s examination system.
“If urgent steps are not taken, many centres may be forced to shut down, thereby disrupting national examinations and disadvantaging millions of candidates,” the letter read.
It added that members may consider lawful collective actions, including a nationwide suspension of services, if the issues are not addressed.
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