JAMB will now control all HND admissions in polytechnics to stop illegal admissions and ensure smooth NYSC mobilization.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has made a big change in how polytechnics and health colleges give admission to students who want to study for their Higher National Diploma.
Under the new arrangement, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, which everyone knows as JAMB, will now handle all HND admissions across all federal, state, and private polytechnics in the country.
The new rule also covers colleges of nursing sciences and colleges of health technology. The National Board for Technical Education sent out an official letter on September 9, 2026, to inform all school heads, including rectors and provosts, that schools must no longer give HND admissions on their own.
This major decision was made after a high-level meeting in Abuja between the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and leaders of top government agencies including JAMB, the National Youth Service Corps, and the National Board for Technical Education.
The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Professor Idris Bugaje, signed the letter sent to the schools. Explaining why the government made this move, Professor Bugaje stated in the circular, “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“.
For many years, some schools gave students fake or unapproved admissions for HND programs. When these students finished their studies, NYSC would refuse to call them up for service because their names were not in the central database.
By putting JAMB in charge, the government wants to make sure that every student who gets admission is properly recorded online from day one.
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Professor Bugaje added that new rules are coming out to guide students on how to apply through the new digital platform. He noted, “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 programs”.
The board also warned that any polytechnic head who refuses to follow this directive will face severe punishment, which may include taking away the school’s operating license. Furthermore, part time admissions have now been capped at fifty percent of a school’s full time quota.
Reassuring the public that the agency is ready to start the new process, the Head of Media and Information at JAMB, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed the board’s readiness. Benjamin stated, “It’s a directive from above, and ours is to comply to ensure that the good intentions of the government are achieved”. This step will ensure students only get admitted into courses that are properly accredited.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
