By MELVIN KOFFA

JAMB Takes Over HND Admissions as NBTE Moves to End Illegal Polytechnic Enrolment

THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board will now handle all Higher National Diploma admissions in Nigerian polytechnics and other affected institutions.

The National Board for Technical Education announced the change in a circular dated 9 September 2026.

The circular, signed by NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, was addressed to rectors and provosts of polytechnics, allied institutions, colleges of nursing sciences and colleges of health technology.

Government Seeks Centralised Admission System

The NBTE said the decision followed a meeting between Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa and key stakeholders, including JAMB, the National Youth Service Corps, NBTE and the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to the board, the new arrangement will create a centralised admission process and help prevent illegal or compromised admissions.

The reform also seeks to address problems that could affect graduates during NYSC mobilisation after completing their HND programmes.

JAMB’s Head of Media and Information, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed that the board would comply with the directive.

He said the directive came from the government and that JAMB would implement it to achieve its intended objectives.

NBTE to Develop New HND Guidelines

Under the new arrangement, NBTE will develop guidelines for HND admissions and submit them to JAMB.

The guidelines will support the digital admission platform and address issues such as the waiting period for National Diploma holders before progressing to HND programmes.

They will also provide for exemptions involving certain ND health-related programmes.

The move is expected to bring HND admissions under a more uniform regulatory framework.

NBTE said the new system would also ensure that admissions go only to accredited programmes and remain within approved institutional carrying capacities.

Part-Time Admissions Also Face New Limits

The reform extends beyond full-time HND admissions.

The NBTE said all part-time ND admissions are now under JAMB.

It also capped the number of part-time students at 50 per cent of each institution’s approved full-time quota.

The measure is intended to provide greater regulatory control over the expansion of part-time programmes.

It could also help institutions align admissions with their approved capacity and available resources.

New Rule for NCE Holders

The NBTE also reaffirmed its earlier position on candidates holding combinations involving NCE and HND qualifications.

The board had earlier prohibited the presentation of NCE/HND combination holders for NYSC mobilisation.

Under the latest arrangement, NCE holders seeking HND programmes must obtain admission through JAMB and first secure a valid ND before progressing to HND.

For such candidates, only ND and HND certificates will qualify for NYSC mobilisation.

The change effectively places the ND qualification at the centre of the progression route into HND programmes for the affected candidates.

NYSC Mobilisation Remains a Major Concern

The connection between admission procedures and NYSC eligibility is one of the key issues behind the reform.

The NBTE said irregular admissions could jeopardise students’ mobilisation after HND.

The board also said the education minister had approved the resolution of outstanding cases involving legally admitted ND part-time and HND full-time candidates.

According to the NBTE, the affected candidates should be mobilised for NYSC as soon as possible.

The move is expected to address concerns among students who entered programmes legally but faced mobilisation problems because of regulatory or admission-related issues.

More Programmes Could Receive UTME Exemption

The government is also reviewing the list of ND agriculture-related programmes whose candidates are exempted from the written Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The minister has directed a review to determine whether additional programmes should receive similar consideration.

NBTE will make a submission, while the Committee of Heads of Nigerian Polytechnics and Similar Institutions will provide input.

Institutions Face Tougher Sanctions

The circular warned rectors and provosts to comply strictly with the new rules.

The NBTE said violations could attract regulatory sanctions, including withdrawal of an institution’s operational licence.

The warning underscores the seriousness with which the government views the new admission framework.

The board said digitisation would make it more difficult for institutions to process unauthorised admissions without detection.

A New Era for Polytechnic Admissions

The centralisation of HND admissions marks a significant change in the way polytechnic students will progress from ND to HND.

For students, the new system could provide a clearer and more uniform admission pathway.

For institutions, however, it will require stricter compliance with approved programmes, quotas and admission procedures.

The success of the reform will ultimately depend on how effectively JAMB, NBTE, NYSC and the Federal Ministry of Education coordinate implementation.

For now, the message from the regulator is clear: HND admissions will no longer operate outside the central admission framework.