Uche Amunike
Lifeandtimes News Writer
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has affirmed that it is not responsible for offering admissions for Higher National Diploma (HND), or for the non-mobilisation of graduates of HND for the National Youth Service Corps.
Speaking, during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students, led by Comrade Eshofune Paul Oghayan, the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede made this announcement.
According to a bulletin released by JAMB on Monday, and signed by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, many HND graduates, especially those who completed their National Diploma on a part-time or non-regular basis before pursuing full-time HND programs, have met challenges concerning the NYSC mobilizations. He reiterated that in order to be eligible for NYSC, the candidate should have studied full-time for the highest qualification.
Irregularities in admission processes, however, often leads to rejection or the issuance of exemption certificates instead of service participation.
This has caused frustration among affected polytechnic alumni who have occasionally accused JAMB for alleged data or processing issues.
Prof Oloyede informed the students that the mandate of the board is limited to conducting submissions and admitting students for first degree and programs, specifically stating that they do not extend to HND programs.
He averred: ‘The Board is not responsible for admitting HND students into polytechnics and, therefore, has no data to facilitate their entry into the NYSC scheme.’
He therefore advised that students should channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters for redress.
He further explained that whenever candidates graduate from ND programs and seek HND admission, the responsibility lies with the individual institutions and not JAMB.
He further highlighted, that JAMB conducts admissions through its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), which streamlines admissions, expands opportunities, restores institutional autonomy, and ensures transparency, while also, helping to prevent multiple admissions.
He also warned that any admission that is conducted outside CAPS is null and void, adding that some institutions bypass CAPS and admit more candidates than the allowed number by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). This, he said, creates discrepancies between ND graduates, especially when the HND program is at a different institution.
He further condemned some ‘daily part-time) HND programs, which he described as exploitative, adding that NYSC usually rejects graduates of unconventional programs, making it impossible for them to be mobilised.
Hear him: ‘Some polytechnics have conducted illegal admissions, with one institution reportedly having over 42,000 irregular cases,’ he said.
‘If institutions follow the proper process, there would be no problem. On our part, we will continue to render quality service beneficial to all stakeholders. Let’s do things properly.’
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is the Nigerian body responsible for conducting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), for prospective undergraduates. This year, one of the important rules made by the board is that all 2026 candidates must declare if they are already enrolled in a higher institution, in order to prevent exam malpractice. They have also announced that the minimum age for admission is 16 years. The candidate must be 16 by September 30, 2026 even though exceptions may exist for candidates scoring 80% or above.
