Polytechnics and other affected tertiary institutions across Nigeria will no longer independently process Higher National Diploma (HND) admissions, following a directive by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) transferring the responsibility to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The new arrangement covers HND admissions in polytechnics, allied institutions, colleges of nursing sciences and colleges of health technology.
NBTE disclosed the decision in a circular dated September 9, 2026, signed by its Executive Secretary, Prof Idris Bugaje, and addressed to rectors and provosts of affected institutions.
According to the board, the directive followed a meeting involving the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, JAMB, the National Youth Service Corps, NBTE and the Federal Ministry of Education.
Bugaje said centralising HND admissions was intended to tackle illegal and compromised admission practices while preventing situations that could jeopardise graduates’ eligibility for NYSC mobilisation.
“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 circular stated.
The Federal Ministry of Education is expected to issue a separate statement with additional details.
NBTE also directed that HND admission guidelines be developed and submitted to JAMB to facilitate the creation of the digital admission platform.
The guidelines are expected to address issues including the waiting period ND holders must observe before progressing to HND programmes and possible exemptions for certain ND health-related programmes.
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,” Benjamin told PUNCH Online on Sunday.
Part-time admissions capped at 50 per cent
The circular also introduced a limit on part-time admissions, following the earlier decision to place all part-time National Diploma admissions under JAMB.
Under the new arrangement, part-time students must not exceed 50 per cent of an institution’s approved full-time admission quota.
NBTE further reaffirmed a September 7 circular prohibiting the presentation of candidates holding NCE/HND combinations for NYSC mobilisation.
Under the revised pathway, NCE holders seeking HND admission must obtain a valid National Diploma before proceeding to an HND programme.
Such candidates may only enter HND programmes through “direct admission” via JAMB.
For NYSC purposes, NBTE said only the ND and HND certificates would be recognised as valid qualifications in such cases.
NBTE tightens admission compliance
The technical education regulator also said the Minister of Education would review the list of agriculture-related ND programmes whose candidates are currently exempted from the written Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The review could lead to additional programmes being considered for exemption.
NBTE has been instructed to make a submission on the matter, while the Committee of Heads of Nigerian Polytechnics and Similar Institutions is expected to contribute to the review.
Meanwhile, rectors and provosts have been directed to ensure strict compliance with all aspects of the new admission regime.
NBTE warned that institutions that breach the directive could face regulatory sanctions, including withdrawal of their operational licences.
The board also disclosed that the Minister of Education had approved the resolution of outstanding cases involving candidates who were legally admitted for ND part-time and HND full-time programmes.
The move, according to NBTE, is intended to enable the affected candidates to be mobilised for NYSC as soon as possible, in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Beyond centralising admissions, NBTE said the integration with JAMB would help ensure that students are admitted only into accredited programmes and within institutions’ approved carrying capacities.
“With digitisation, there shall be no hiding place for illegal admissions,” the board said.
