The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board will henceforth oversee admissions into Higher National Diploma programmes across polytechnics and other affected tertiary institutions, the National Board for Technical Education has announced.
The new policy covers polytechnics, allied institutions, colleges of nursing sciences and colleges of health technology. It was contained in a circular dated September 9, 2026, and signed by the NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof Idris Bugaje.
The directive was addressed to rectors and provosts of the affected institutions and followed a meeting involving the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, JAMB, the National Youth Service Corps, NBTE and the Federal Ministry of Education.
Move to tackle illegal admissions
The NBTE said the decision was designed to centralize the admission process and prevent irregularities that could affect students’ eligibility for NYSC mobilization after completing their HND programmes.
The board said it would immediately prepare HND admission guidelines for JAMB to use in developing the digital platform. The guidelines will cover issues such as the required waiting period for National Diploma holders before progressing to HND and exemptions for some ND health-related programmes.
JAMB’s Head of Media and Information, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed that the board would implement the directive.
He said, “It’s a directive from above and ours is to comply to ensure that the good intentions of the government are achieved.”
The NBTE added that the centralized system would ensure that students were admitted only into accredited programmes and within institutions’ approved carrying capacities.
“With digitization, there shall be no hiding place for illegal admissions,” the board stated.
Part-time admissions capped at 50%
The circular also addressed part-time National Diploma admissions, which are now to be processed through JAMB.
Under the new arrangement, the number of part-time students an institution can admit will be limited to 50 per cent of its approved full-time admission quota.
The NBTE also reaffirmed its September 7 directive barring institutions from presenting candidates with NCE/HND combinations for NYSC mobilization.
NCE holders seeking HND admission will now have to secure admission through JAMB under the direct admission route and obtain a valid ND before progressing to an HND programme.
For NYSC purposes, only the ND and HND certificates will be recognized in such cases.
Review of UTME exemptions
The NBTE said the Minister of Education would also review the list of ND agriculture-related programmes whose candidates are currently exempted from the written Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The review will consider whether the exemption should be extended to additional programmes. NBTE is expected to submit its recommendations, while the Committee of Heads of Nigerian Polytechnics and Similar Institutions will provide input.
Outstanding NYSC cases to be resolved
Bugaje further disclosed that the Minister of Education had approved the resolution of outstanding cases involving legally admitted ND part-time and HND full-time students.
The move is intended to enable affected candidates to be mobilized for NYSC as soon as possible, in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The NBTE warned heads of affected institutions to comply fully with the new requirements, stressing that violations could lead to regulatory sanctions, including withdrawal of an institution’s operational license.
