JAMB Takes Full Control of HND Admissions Nationwide

The Federal Government has directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to take over all Higher National Diploma (HND) admissions in polytechnics, allied institutions, colleges of nursing sciences and health technology with immediate effect from the current academic session.

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) conveyed the decision 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 move followed a high-level meeting convened by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, involving JAMB, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), NBTE and officials of the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to the circular, the centralisation is designed to eliminate illegal and compromised admissions that have long undermined the integrity of the polytechnic system and left many graduates unable to mobilise for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps scheme 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 FME shall issue a statement on this next week with further details,” the circular stated.

NBTE has been mandated to develop comprehensive HND Admission Guidelines without delay and submit them to JAMB. These guidelines will shape the digital admission platform and address critical issues such as the mandatory waiting period for National Diploma (ND) holders before progressing to HND, as well as exemptions for certain health-related ND programmes.

The board also reaffirmed that all part-time ND admissions now fall under JAMB’s purview. Consequently, the proportion of part-time students in any institution has been capped at 50 per cent of the approved full-time admission quota. This measure is expected to prevent institutions from inflating enrolments beyond their carrying capacities.

In a related directive issued on September 7, NBTE prohibited the presentation of candidates holding a combination of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and HND for NYSC mobilisation. Under the new rules, NCE holders seeking HND admission must first obtain a valid ND through “direct admission” processed by JAMB. Only the combination of ND and HND certificates will be recognised for national service in such cases.

The Minister of Education is also expected to review the list of ND agriculture-related programmes currently exempted from the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with the possibility of extending similar exemptions to other programmes. NBTE has been directed to make a formal submission, drawing input from the Committee of Heads of Nigerian Polytechnics and Similar Institutions.

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Bugaje warned that strict compliance is mandatory. Any breach by rectors or provosts will attract “appropriate regulatory sanctions, including withdrawal of operational licence.” He added that the minister has approved the resolution of all outstanding cases involving legally admitted ND part-time and HND full-time candidates so they can be mobilised for NYSC without further delay, in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Reacting to the development, 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 reporters on Sunday.

The decision marks a significant shift. For years, JAMB had maintained that HND admissions fell outside its statutory mandate, which covers only first-degree, National Diploma and NCE programmes. This gap allowed some institutions to conduct irregular admissions outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), creating mismatches in student data that later blocked NYSC mobilisation. The new centralised arrangement, backed by digitisation, is intended to close those loopholes permanently.

“With digitisation, there shall be no hiding place for illegal admissions,” NBTE declared, emphasising that admissions will be restricted to accredited programmes and approved carrying capacities.

Further operational details are expected from the Federal Ministry of Education in the coming week as the new regime takes full effect.