The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board will henceforth coordinate all Higher National Diploma admissions in polytechnics, allied institutions and colleges of nursing sciences and health technology.
The National Board for Technical Education disclosed this in a circular dated September 9, 2026, signed by its Executive Secretary, Prof Idris Bugaje, and addressed to rectors and provosts of the affected institutions.
The directive followed a meeting between the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and officials of JAMB, NBTE, the National Youth Service Corps and the Federal Ministry of Education.
Bugaje said the centralised admission system was intended to curb illegal and compromised admissions, as well as prevent problems with students’ mobilisation for the NYSC after completing their HND programmes.
“All HND admissions in all institutions shall, from this session, be taken over by JAMB to provide a centralised process and avoid illegal and compromised admissions, jeopardising students’ mobilisation for NYSC after HND,” the circular stated.
The Federal Ministry of Education is expected to issue further details on the policy.
The NBTE also directed that it would develop HND admission guidelines and submit them to JAMB to guide the digital admission platform.
The guidelines are expected to address the waiting period for National Diploma holders before progressing to HND programmes, as well as exemptions for certain ND health-related courses.
JAMB’s Head of Media and Information, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed that the board would implement the directive.
“It’s a directive from above and ours is to comply to ensure that the good intentions of the government are achieved,” he told PUNCH Online.
The NBTE further stated that, with part-time National Diploma admissions now under JAMB, part-time students in each institution would be limited to 50 per cent of the approved full-time admission quota.
The board also reaffirmed its earlier directive prohibiting the presentation of candidates with combined NCE and HND qualifications for NYSC mobilisation.
Under the policy, holders of the Nigeria Certificate in Education seeking HND admission must obtain a valid ND qualification before proceeding to HND studies. Such candidates are to gain admission through JAMB’s direct admission process.
Only the ND and HND certificates would be recognised for NYSC mobilisation in those circumstances.
The NBTE added that the Minister of Education would review the list of agriculture-related ND programmes whose candidates are exempted from the written Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The board is expected to submit recommendations, while the Committee of Heads of Nigerian Polytechnics and Similar Institutions will provide input.
The circular warned heads of institutions to comply strictly with the directive, noting that violations could attract regulatory sanctions, including the withdrawal of operational licences.
Bugaje also disclosed that the minister had approved the resolution of outstanding cases involving legally admitted ND part-time and HND full-time students to enable them to be mobilised for NYSC as soon as possible.
The NBTE said the centralised system would ensure that admissions were offered only for accredited programmes and within approved carrying capacities.
“With digitisation, there shall be no hiding place for illegal admissions,” the board stated.
- Singapore court rejects CEO’s $468,000 claim against ex-girlfriend - September 13, 2026
- Five Islamic clerics abducted after prayer for Tinubu’s re-election in Zamfara - September 13, 2026
- NDLEA intercepts UK Colos shipments, arrests seven in Lagos - September 13, 2026
