FG Reforms JAMB Admission Policy to Expand Access to Tertiary Education

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a major reform in admission policies for tertiary institutions, declaring that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination will no longer be a compulsory requirement for admission. This landmark decision, spearheaded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, aims to widen access to higher education across the country by allowing institutions greater freedom to admit students based on their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results, such as WAEC and NECO .

Millions of Nigerian students annually take the JAMB/UTME exam, but only a fraction secure admission under stringent criteria. The government highlighted that the issue lies not with student competence but with restrictive admission rules which have limited opportunities for many deserving students. The reform is set to expand admission capacities by an estimated additional 250,000 to 300,000 students each year, promoting inclusiveness and equitable education access under the Renewed Hope Agenda .

New Admission Guidelines

Universities will now admit students who possess at least five credit passes in relevant subjects including English Language. Mathematics will be mandatory only for candidates applying to science, technology, and social science courses. For polytechnics, candidates seeking National Diploma (ND) programs require at least four credits including English, while those applying for Higher National Diploma (HND) courses must have five credits including English and Mathematics. Colleges of Education also have clear requirements: four credits for NCE level and five credits including English and Mathematics for B.Ed .

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Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) are adopting the minimum requirements similar to polytechnics, and the National Innovation Diploma (NID) is being replaced with the National Diploma (ND) to ensure uniformity and enhance progress for graduates .

What About JAMB?

The Federal Government clarified that this reform does not completely abolish JAMB or the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Rather, it reduces JAMB’s dominance in the admission process, granting tertiary institutions the autonomy to admit candidates based solely on SSCE results if they so choose. This change offers students multiple pathways to admission while maintaining academic standards and institutional discretion .

Government Commitment

The Minister of Education emphasized that this reform contributes to national development goals by aligning education with global standards, reducing out-of-school youth, and strengthening vocational and technical training. The Federal Government remains committed to inclusive education, human capital development, and youth empowerment consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda .