The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has directed that all Higher National Diploma (HND) admissions in polytechnics, allied institutions, colleges of nursing sciences and health technology institutions be conducted through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The directive was contained in a circular dated September 9, 2026 Obtained by The News Chronicle, signed by the NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, and addressed to rectors and provosts of the affected institutions.
According to the NBTE, the decision followed a meeting between the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and key stakeholders, including JAMB, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), NBTE and the Federal Ministry of Education.
The board said the centralisation of HND admissions was aimed at eliminating illegal and compromised admissions and preventing challenges that could affect graduates’ mobilisation for the NYSC.
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 NBTE also directed that it would develop HND admission guidelines and submit them to JAMB to guide the digital admission platform.
The guidelines will cover issues such as the waiting period for National Diploma (ND) holders before proceeding to HND and exemptions for certain health-related ND programmes.
Confirming the directive, JAMB’s Head of Media and Information, Fabian Benjamin, said the board would comply with the government’s decision.
“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 further announced that part-time ND admissions, which are already handled by JAMB, would be limited to 50 per cent of each institution’s approved full-time admission quota.
The board also reaffirmed its earlier directive prohibiting the presentation of candidates with NCE/HND combinations for NYSC mobilisation.
Under the new arrangement, NCE holders seeking HND admission must obtain admission through JAMB and first acquire a valid ND before proceeding to an HND programme.
The NBTE said only ND and HND certificates would be recognised for NYSC mobilisation in such cases.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education is expected to review the list of agriculture-related ND programmes whose candidates are exempted from the written Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with consideration being given to extending the exemption to other programmes.
The NBTE said the new admission system would ensure that candidates are admitted only into accredited programmes and within the approved carrying capacities of institutions.
It warned rectors and provosts to strictly comply with the directive, stressing that violations could attract regulatory sanctions, including withdrawal of operational licences.
The board added that the minister had approved the resolution of outstanding cases involving legally admitted ND part-time and HND full-time candidates to enable them to be mobilised for NYSC as soon as possible.
“With digitisation, there shall be no hiding place for illegal admissions,” the NBTE said.
