JAMB Registrar Professor Segun Aina
JAMB Takes Over HND Admissions in Polytechnics, Health Institutions Nationwide
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will henceforth handle the admission process for Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in polytechnics and other affected tertiary institutions across Nigeria, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has announced.
The new policy, which takes effect from the current admission session, represents a major expansion of JAMB’s role in Nigeria’s tertiary education admission system.
Under the arrangement, HND admissions in polytechnics, allied institutions, colleges of nursing sciences and colleges of health technology will be processed through a centralised system under JAMB.
The NBTE disclosed this in a circular dated September 9, 2026, signed by its Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, and addressed to heads of affected institutions.
The directive followed a meeting involving the Federal Ministry of Education, JAMB, NBTE and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), convened by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.
According to the NBTE, the decision was taken to address concerns surrounding illegal, irregular and compromised admissions, particularly cases in which students are admitted outside approved procedures and later encounter difficulties when they seek recognition of their qualifications or NYSC mobilisation.
The centralisation of HND admissions is expected to give the government a more reliable record of candidates from the point of admission through graduation.
It will also enable JAMB and other regulatory agencies to verify whether candidates were properly admitted into approved programmes and institutions before they complete their studies.
The development is significant because HND admissions have traditionally been handled largely by individual polytechnics and other institutions, while JAMB’s admission responsibilities have been more closely associated with entry into National Diploma (ND), degree and other tertiary programmes.
READ ALSO:
The new arrangement will therefore bring HND admissions into a more centralised framework and reduce the level of discretion previously available to individual institutions.
The NBTE is expected to develop comprehensive HND admission guidelines and submit them to JAMB for integration into the board’s digital admission platform.
The guidelines are expected to clarify several aspects of the new process, including the requirements and waiting period for ND graduates seeking HND admission.
The rules are also expected to provide for possible exemptions involving some health-related ND programmes where the structure of the programmes may require different admission arrangements.
The policy is closely connected to concerns about NYSC mobilisation for HND graduates.
The government has in recent times faced questions over cases in which graduates of polytechnics and other technical institutions encounter difficulties during mobilisation because of discrepancies in their admission records or the status of their programmes.
By moving HND admissions under JAMB, the authorities are seeking to establish a central admission trail that can be verified by relevant agencies.
The arrangement is expected to make it more difficult for institutions or individuals to manipulate admissions or admit students into programmes without the necessary approvals.
JAMB already operates the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), a digital platform used for centralised admission processing. The expansion of its responsibilities to HND admissions will allow the board to incorporate the new category into an existing electronic admission structure.
The NBTE has also issued a related directive concerning part-time National Diploma (ND) admissions.
READ ALSO:
Under the new arrangement, institutions will be required to process part-time ND admissions through JAMB, while their part-time admission capacity will be limited to 50 per cent of their approved full-time admission quota.
The measure is expected to provide regulators with greater oversight of part-time enrolment and help prevent institutions from exceeding their approved capacity.
The NBTE also reaffirmed its position on candidates who hold a combination of National Certificate in Education (NCE) and HND qualifications, stating that such candidates should not be presented for NYSC mobilisation.
The decision comes against the backdrop of JAMB’s earlier position that it was not responsible for HND admissions or NYSC mobilisation.
The latest directive consequently marks a significant change in the division of responsibilities among JAMB, NBTE, tertiary institutions and other government agencies involved in technical and vocational education.
The centralised admission process is also expected to improve the availability of data on students enrolled in polytechnics and other technical institutions.
For prospective HND applicants, the immediate implication is that admission into an HND programme will no longer be solely a matter between the applicant and the institution. Candidates will have to comply with the requirements and procedures established under the new JAMB HND admission system.
Polytechnics and other affected institutions are consequently expected to adjust their admission procedures to comply with the new directive once the detailed implementation guidelines are released.
The reform is part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to strengthen regulation of Nigeria’s technical and vocational education system, improve admission transparency and ensure that qualifications awarded by approved institutions are properly documented.
The government is also expected to monitor implementation closely to ensure that the new centralised system does not create unnecessary delays for qualified applicants seeking admission into HND programmes.
For students and graduates, one of the major expected benefits is a clearer link between admission records, academic qualifications and NYSC mobilisation.
The success of the policy, however, will depend largely on the detailed guidelines to be issued by the NBTE and the effectiveness with which JAMB integrates HND admissions into its digital platform.
With the takeover, applicants seeking HND admission in Nigeria will need to pay close attention to official announcements from JAMB, NBTE and their institutions as the new system is implemented nationwide.
Nigerians should look beyond ethnicity, region and the longstanding debate over rotational presidency when choosing…
Mother 'sold daughter's abuse videos for $300': Nigeria child pornography case shocks nation Nigerian father…
Army Confirms Abduction of Six Imams in Zamfara, Denies Kidnapping at Yari’s Residence The Nigerian…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Paris, France, as he continues his three-week annual…
Petrol Subsidy: Presidency Rejects Atiku’s Plan, Says No Going Back The Presidency has ruled out…
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has threatened to drag the Independent National Electoral…