JAMB to manage HND admissions in polytechnics – NBTE

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has announced that all Higher National Diploma (HND) admissions in polytechnics, allied institutions, schools of nursing and health technology will now be handled by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The decision is contained in a circular dated 9 September 2026, signed by the executive secretary of the NBTE, prof. Idris Bugaje, and addressed to all the rectors and presbyters of the institutions concerned.

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

The NBTE said the move aims to ensure a centralized admissions process and curb “illegal and compromised admissions”.

Centralized HND admission process

The circular stated that all HND admissions would be taken over by JAMB from the current academic session to provide a centralized process and prevent illegal admissions which could affect the mobilization of students for NYSC after completing their HND programmes.

He added that the Federal Ministry of Education will release a statement on the development with further details.

The NBTE is also expected to develop HND admissions guidelines and submit them to JAMB to guide the digital admissions platform. The guidelines are expected to address issues such as the waiting period for ND holders before proceeding to MND and exemptions for certain ND health plans.

Reacting to the development, JAMB’s Head of Media and Information, Fabian Benjamin, said the council would abide by the directive.

“This is a directive coming from above and our job is to respect it to ensure that the government’s good intentions are achieved,” he said.

Part-time admissions limited to 50%.

Regarding part-time admissions, the circular stated that with all part-time ND admissions now under JAMB, the percentage of part-time students has been limited to 50% of the full-time quota approved by each institution.

The NBTE also reaffirmed an earlier circular issued on September 7, prohibiting submission of NCE/HND combination holders for NYSC mobilization.

According to the new directive, NCE holders can only gain admission to HND programs via “direct admission” through JAMB and must first obtain a valid ND before proceeding to HND studies.

In these cases, only ND and HND certificates will be recognized as valid for NYSC mobilization.

The council also said the Minister of Education will review ND’s list of agriculture-related programs whose candidates are exempted from the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Written Examination, with a view to considering other programmes.

The NBTE has been asked to submit a proposal, while the committee of heads of Nigerian polytechnics and similar institutions is expected to provide input.

The circular warns that all rectors and provosts must ensure strict compliance, stressing that any breach would attract “appropriate regulatory sanctions, including withdrawal of operating licence”.

NYSC mobilization cases to be resolved

Bugaje added that the Minister of Education has approved the resolution of all pending cases involving legally eligible part-time ND and full-time HND candidates to ensure that they are mobilized for the NYSC as soon as possible, in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to the NBTE, the integration would also ensure that admissions are granted only for accredited programs and within approved load capacities.

“With digitalisation there will be no more hiding places for illegal admissions,” the committee said.