The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board does not process admissions for Higher National Diploma programmes and has no authority over National Youth Service Corps mobilisation for HND graduates, the JAMB Registrar has stated, drawing a clear line between the board’s responsibilities and those of polytechnic institutions.
Prof. Ishaq Oloyede made this emphatic clarification while addressing the leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students, led by Comrade Eshofune Paul Oghayan, at a meeting to address persistent complaints from HND graduates who have been unable to participate in the NYSC scheme.
A bulletin released by JAMB on Monday and signed by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, detailed the Registrar’s position on the matter.
Prof. Oloyede explained that JAMB’s statutory mandate covers only the conduct of examinations and admissions into first degree, National Diploma, and Nigerian Certificate in Education programmes. Higher National Diploma admissions, he stressed, fall outside this mandate.
“The Board is not responsible for admitting HND students into polytechnics and, therefore, has no data to facilitate their entry into the NYSC scheme,” Prof. Oloyede stated. He directed affected students to channel their complaints to the relevant institutions and regulatory bodies responsible for HND admissions.
The Registrar noted that confusion arises when candidates complete their ND programmes and proceed to seek HND admission, a process managed entirely by individual polytechnics without JAMB’s involvement.
Many HND graduates, particularly those who completed their National Diploma through part time or non regular pathways before enrolling in full time HND programmes, have faced NYSC mobilisation challenges. NYSC participation typically requires full time study for the highest qualification obtained, and admission irregularities such as unprocessed records or part time ND classifications often result in rejection or exemption certificates instead of mobilisation.
Prof. Oloyede highlighted JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System as the only legitimate platform for admissions into programmes under the board’s mandate. CAPS, he explained, automates the admissions process, ensures transparency, prevents multiple admissions, and empowers candidates with accurate information about institutions and programmes.
He issued a strong warning that any admission conducted outside CAPS is null and void.
The Registrar disclosed that some polytechnics bypass CAPS entirely, admitting more ND students than the National Board for Technical Education permits. This practice, he said, creates serious discrepancies, especially when graduates pursue HND programmes at institutions different from where they obtained their ND.
Prof. Oloyede also condemned what he described as exploitative “Daily Part Time” HND programmes, noting that NYSC frequently rejects graduates of such unconventional arrangements, leaving them unable to serve.
He revealed that one polytechnic alone is reported to have over 42,000 irregular admission cases, a figure that underscores the magnitude of non compliance with established admission procedures.
“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,” Prof. Oloyede urged.
By clarifying its mandate, JAMB is shifting accountability to the institutions and bodies directly responsible for HND admissions, while reinforcing that compliance with CAPS remains essential for all admissions under its authority.
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