JAMB, WAEC Slash Verification Hassle with N4,000 One-Off Fee

Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) have announced a definitive end to the era of multiple verification fees for O’Level results, pegging the cost of the service at a single, non-negotiable N4,000 for all candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions. The landmark decision, contained in a joint press statement issued on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, follows extensive consultations between the two examination bodies and is designed to eliminate the financial exploitation and logistical nightmares that have long plagued the admission process.

Under the new arrangement, candidates whose admissions are regulated and coordinated by JAMB will be required to verify their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results only once through a dedicated JAMB platform. The verified outcome will then be made available to the tertiary institution to which the candidate is seeking admission, effectively removing the need for applicants to pay separate verification charges to different schools. The two bodies stressed that the N4,000 fee is payable only once and directly through the specified JAMB Verification Service platform, warning candidates against making additional payments to their desired institutions for the same purpose.

The statement, which was made available to newsmen in Abuja by the JAMB spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, emphasized that tertiary institutions are now formally directed to utilize the verified results shared by JAMB for screening, admission processing, and other administrative purposes. “Candidates shall not be required to pay for another verification,” the statement declared, adding that institutions are not expected to demand another payment from candidates for verification of the same WASSCE O’Level results. The development follows JAMB’s recent introduction of a system that enables candidates to upload and verify their O’Level results from home or any internet-enabled location, eliminating the need to routinely visit JAMB-approved Computer-Based Test centres solely for the exercise.

For years, admission seekers in Nigeria have been subjected to a grueling and costly cycle of result verification. Candidates applying to multiple institutions often found themselves paying separate verification fees to each school, a practice that placed an enormous financial burden on families already grappling with the high cost of education. The new policy, which follows a series of meetings and consultations between JAMB and WAEC, is expected to bring significant relief to these applicants by allowing a single successful verification to be used multiple times for admission purposes. According to the two organisations, the arrangement is aimed at reducing the financial and logistical burden on candidates while simplifying the admission process. WAEC has also authorised JAMB to share the outcome of the verification exercise with relevant tertiary institutions for admission-related purposes.

The announcement has been met with widespread approval from education stakeholders, parents, and students who have long decried the inefficiencies of the previous system. The N4,000 fee, while still a significant sum for many Nigerian families, represents a substantial reduction compared to the cumulative costs candidates previously incurred when verifying results for multiple institutions. JAMB and WAEC have urged candidates to take full advantage of the arrangement by completing their WASSCE O’Level verification through the JAMB-provided platform once, assuring them that the verified outcome would be made available to the relevant institution. The two examination bodies described the collaboration as part of their commitment to putting candidates’ interests first, reducing unnecessary costs, and eliminating the stress associated with repeated O’Level result verification during the admission process.

The latest development comes as thousands of Nigerian youths continue to navigate the 2026/2027 tertiary admission process, with O’Level results remaining a critical component of admission screening and eligibility. In the past, candidates have had to upload their O’Level results through approved channels and, in some cases, undertake additional verification processes required by individual institutions. JAMB’s new technology-driven approach is aimed at reducing such repeated processes and limiting visits to CBT centres. The two examination bodies said the collaboration was also intended to strengthen the integrity of academic records and reduce opportunities for the presentation of fake or altered certificates during the admission process. With this one-off fee of N4,000, JAMB and WAEC have not only standardized a chaotic system but have also sent a clear message: the days of paying multiple times for the same service are finally over.

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