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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board will take over the processing of all Higher National Diploma admissions in polytechnics, allied institutions and colleges of nursing sciences and health technology from the current academic session.
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, and addressed to rectors and provosts of the affected institutions.
The directive 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.
According to Bugaje, the centralised admission process is intended to curb illegal and compromised admissions and prevent problems that could affect students’ mobilisation for the NYSC after completing their HND programmes.
The circular 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.”
JAMB’s Head of Media and Information, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed that the board would comply with the directive.
“It’s a directive from above and ours is to comply to ensure that the good intentions of the government are achieved,” he said.
The NBTE said it would immediately develop HND Admission Guidelines and submit them to JAMB to guide the digital admission platform. The guidelines will include the waiting period for National Diploma holders before proceeding to HND and exemptions for certain ND health-related programmes.
The new arrangement also affects part-time admissions. With part-time ND admissions now under JAMB, the proportion of part-time students has been capped at 50 per cent of each institution’s approved full-time quota.
The NBTE further reaffirmed its September 7 directive prohibiting the presentation of candidates with NCE/HND combinations for NYSC mobilisation. Under the new arrangement, NCE holders seeking HND admission must obtain a valid ND first, with only the ND and HND certificates recognised for NYSC mobilisation in such cases.
The board said the centralised system would ensure that admissions are granted only into accredited programmes and within approved carrying capacities. It also warned that institutions that breach the directive could face regulatory sanctions, including withdrawal of their operational licences.
