The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board is taking direct control of the intake process for all Higher National Diploma programmes across Nigeria. Following a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education, JAMB takes over HND admissions across all polytechnics, allied institutions, colleges of nursing sciences, and colleges of health technology.
The policy change targets illegal admissions, protects students from losing their NYSC mobilisation requirements, and establishes a single digital admissions platform for technical education.
The shift was confirmed in an official circular dated September 9, 2026, signed by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje. Addressed to rectors and provosts nationwide, the directive follows a high-level strategic meeting convened by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, alongside top officials from JAMB, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the NBTE, and the ministry.
Why JAMB Takes Over HND Admissions
For years, unapproved intake practices and unaccredited courses have left thousands of graduates stranded without access to the national youth service scheme. By centralising the system through a single portal, the government aims to close regulatory loopholes and restore transparency.
Explaining the core motive behind the directive, Bugaje stated:
“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.”
“NBTE shall immediately develop HND Admission Guidelines and submit to JAMB to guide the digital platform for the admission, including the waiting period for ND holders before proceeding to HND and exemption for certain ND Health-related programmes.”
The upcoming NBTE HND admission guidelines will clarify mandatory waiting periods for National Diploma graduates before they advance to higher programmes, alongside special exemptions for specific health-related disciplines.
New Polytechnic Part-Time Quota Rules and NYSC Eligibility
Alongside the centralisation of higher diploma entries, the government has imposed stricter regulations on part-time studies. With all part-time National Diploma entries now recorded on the central portal, authorities have enforced tight polytechnic part-time quota rules. Part-time enrolments are now strictly capped at 50 per cent of an institution’s approved full-time capacity.
The NBTE also reinforced a previous circular issued on September 7, which permanently bars candidates holding combined NCE and HND credentials from NYSC enrolment. Under the updated framework, NCE holders seeking HND entry must secure “direct admission” via JAMB and complete a valid National Diploma first.
Crucially, only consecutive ND and HND certificates will meet valid NYSC mobilisation requirements for these candidates.
Furthermore, the Minister of Education plans to review agricultural ND courses currently exempt from the written Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Inputs for this review will come directly from the NBTE and the Committee of Heads of Nigerian Polytechnics and Similar Institutions.
Regulatory Enforcement and Clearance for Existing Students
The NBTE warned heads of institutions that non-compliance will bring swift penalties. Rectors and provosts who attempt to bypass the centralized system risk heavy administrative punishment, up to and including the complete revocation of their operational licences.
However, relief is on the way for current students caught in administrative limbo. Bugaje noted that the minister has approved a resolution plan for all legitimate ND part-time and HND full-time candidates whose enrolments were previously stalled, clearing them for upcoming NYSC batches under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
By tying institutional capacity to a unified digital admission database, the regulatory board expects unapproved enrolments to end entirely.
“With digitisation, there shall be no hiding place for illegal admissions,” the board said.
