The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that it is not responsible for admissions into Higher National Diploma programmes or for the inability of some polytechnic graduates to be mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, made the clarification while meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students, led by Comrade Eshofune Paul Oghayan.
This comes amid longstanding complaints by polytechnic graduates over difficulties with NYSC mobilisation for HND holders, with some students wrongly attributing the problem to JAMB.
What JAMB said
According to Prof. Oloyede, JAMB’s mandate is limited to conducting entrance examinations and processing admissions into first-degree, National Diploma, and Nigerian Certificate in Education programmes.
He stressed that the Board does not admit candidates into Higher National Diploma programmes in polytechnics.
- “The Board is not responsible for admitting HND students into polytechnics and, therefore, has no data to facilitate their entry into the NYSC scheme,” he said.
He advised students experiencing challenges with NYSC mobilisation to direct their complaints to the appropriate institutions rather than the Board.
Prof. Oloyede explained that once candidates complete their National Diploma programmes and seek admission into HND programmes, the responsibility for their admission rests with the institutions offering those programmes.
More details
Prof. Oloyede raised concerns about irregular admission practices in some institutions.
- He noted that some polytechnics admit more National Diploma candidates than permitted by the National Board for Technical Education, creating discrepancies when such graduates proceed to HND programmes in other institutions.
He further criticized some Daily Part-Time HND programmes, describing them as exploitative and warning that graduates from unconventional programmes may face rejection during NYSC mobilisation.
- “Some polytechnics have conducted illegal admissions, with one institution reportedly having over 42,000 irregular cases,” he said.
- “If institutions follow the proper process, there would be no problem. On our part, we will continue to render quality service beneficial to all stakeholders. Let’s do things properly,” he added.
What you should know
Nairametrics earlier reported that a total of 2,243,816 candidates registered for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination nationwide, with Lagos (321,814), Kaduna (303,498), FCT-Abuja (302,963), and Ogun (137,156) leading the list of states with the highest number of registrants.
The board projected N23.8 billion in internally generated revenue for 2026, an increase of N4 billion from its 2025 target, with N6 billion to be remitted to the Federation Account as operating surplus.
Ahead of the 2026 UTME, JAMB created 1,000 examination centres nationwide, up from fewer than 800 in 2025, to improve access and logistics for candidates.
