The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has announced that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will take over the admission process for all Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in polytechnics, allied institutions, colleges of nursing sciences and health technology institutions.
The new arrangement will take effect from the current admission session and is aimed at establishing a centralised admission system while tackling illegal and compromised admissions.
The 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 circular, 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.
Bugaje said the centralised process was necessary to prevent admission irregularities that could subsequently affect graduates’ eligibility for NYSC mobilisation.
The circular stated that all HND admissions would henceforth be handled by JAMB to provide a centralised process and prevent illegal or compromised admissions.
The Federal Ministry of Education is expected to issue further details on the implementation of the policy.
As part of the new arrangement, NBTE has been directed to immediately develop comprehensive HND Admission Guidelines and submit them to JAMB.
The guidelines are expected to provide the requirements for the digital admission platform, including the waiting period ND holders must observe before proceeding to HND programmes.
The guidelines will also address exemptions for certain ND health-related programmes.
The move is expected to bring HND admissions under the same centralised framework being used for other tertiary admission processes.
JAMB’s Head of Media and Information, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed that the board would comply with the directive.
He said JAMB’s responsibility was to implement the government’s decision and ensure that its objectives were achieved.
“It’s a directive from above and ours is to comply to ensure that the good intentions of the government are achieved,” Benjamin said.
The development means prospective HND students will now have to follow the admission process prescribed by JAMB rather than relying solely on individual institutions for admission.
The NBTE circular also addressed part-time admissions.
With all part-time National Diploma (ND) admissions now under JAMB, the proportion of part-time students in each institution has been capped at 50 per cent of its approved full-time quota.
The policy is expected to regulate the number of students admitted through part-time programmes and ensure institutions operate within approved capacities.
The NBTE also reaffirmed an earlier directive prohibiting the presentation of candidates holding combined NCE/HND qualifications for NYSC mobilisation.
Under the new arrangement, NCE holders seeking HND admission must obtain a valid National Diploma (ND) before proceeding to HND studies.
Such candidates must secure admission into HND programmes through direct admission via JAMB.
The board said only ND and HND certificates would be recognised for NYSC mobilisation in such cases.
The clarification is expected to affect prospective students who previously relied on NCE qualifications as a route into HND programmes.
The Minister of Education will also review the list of ND agriculture-related programmes whose candidates are currently exempted from the written Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The review will consider whether additional programmes should be included among those eligible for exemption.
NBTE has been directed to make a submission on the matter, while the Committee of Heads of Nigerian Polytechnics and Similar Institutions is expected to provide input.
The NBTE warned rectors and provosts of the affected institutions to ensure strict compliance with the new admission directives.
The board said institutions that violate the rules could face regulatory sanctions, including the withdrawal of their operational licences.
The new centralised system is also expected to 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 NBTE said.
Bugaje also disclosed that the Minister of Education had approved the resolution of outstanding cases involving legally admitted ND part-time and HND full-time candidates.
READ MORE: Ajaero Urges Labour Leaders To Seek Political Power, Cites Nasir Idris
The aim is to ensure that eligible candidates affected by previous admission arrangements are mobilised for NYSC as soon as possible.
The NBTE said the resolution was in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The latest directive represents a major change in the way polytechnics and other technical institutions will admit HND students, with JAMB now positioned to oversee the process centrally.
The policy is also expected to strengthen admission monitoring, reduce irregularities and ensure that students admitted into tertiary institutions meet the requirements for subsequent NYSC mobilisation.
