FG Hands HND Admissions to JAMB in Sweeping Polytechnic Reform

The Federal Government has approved the takeover of Higher National Diploma admissions by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from the current admission session, in a sweeping reform aimed at ending illegal and compromised admissions in polytechnics and other institutions offering HND programmes.

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) disclosed the development in a circular dated September 9, 2026, signed by its Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje. The circular followed a meeting between the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and key stakeholders, including JAMB, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the NBTE and the Federal Ministry of Education.

Under the new arrangement, all HND admissions across institutions are to be processed through JAMB. The NBTE said the centralised system is intended to address irregularities in the admission process and prevent situations where students with questionable admissions are later denied 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 centralised process and avoid illegal and compromised admissions, jeopardising students' mobilisation for NYSC after HND," the circular stated.

The board added that the Federal Ministry of Education would issue a detailed statement on the new arrangement, while the NBTE would immediately develop comprehensive HND admission guidelines and submit them to JAMB to guide the digital admission platform. The guidelines will address issues including the required waiting period for National Diploma holders before proceeding to HND, as well as exemptions for certain ND health-related programmes.

The reform also introduces a new ceiling for part-time National Diploma admissions. Following the decision to bring all part-time ND admissions under JAMB, the proportion of part-time students is now limited to 50 per cent of an institution's approved full-time admission quota. "Now that all part-time ND admissions are under the JAMB, the proportion of part-time students is pegged at 50 per cent of the approved full-time quota," the circular stated.

The Federal Government also reaffirmed an earlier NBTE directive concerning holders of combined National Certificate in Education and HND qualifications and their eligibility for NYSC mobilisation. The NBTE had, in a circular issued on September 7, prohibited the presentation of candidates with an NCE/HND combination for NYSC mobilisation.

The takeover represents a significant expansion of JAMB's mandate. The board had previously clarified that it was not responsible for HND admissions or the non-mobilisation of HND graduates for NYSC. In March 2026, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede insisted that the board's role was limited to conducting examinations and providing admission processes into tertiary institutions, and that responsibility for mobilising graduates for NYSC lay with the institutions that award the certificates. Oloyede disclosed that some polytechnics had conducted illegal admissions, with one institution reportedly having over 42,000 irregular cases.

The anomalies identified by JAMB explain the government's decision to centralise HND admissions. Many HND graduates, particularly those who completed their National Diploma on a part-time or non-regular basis before pursuing full-time HND programmes, have encountered barriers to NYSC mobilisation. The eligibility criteria typically require full-time study for the highest qualification, and irregularities in admission processes can lead to rejections or the issuance of exemption certificates instead of service participation. By bringing HND admissions under JAMB's Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), the government hopes to ensure that all admissions are traceable, transparent and compliant with NYSC requirements.

The reform is likely to be welcomed by students who have been affected by the non-mobilisation crisis, as it addresses the root cause of the problem. However, it may also face resistance from polytechnic administrators who have historically exercised autonomy over HND admissions. The NBTE has said the new guidelines will clarify the waiting period for ND holders and exemptions for health-related programmes. As the current admission session gets underway, the coming weeks will determine how smoothly the transition to a centralised HND admission system proceeds and whether it succeeds in restoring integrity to a process that has been plagued by irregularities for years.