The Federal Government has approved the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to take over the processing of Higher National Diploma (HND) admissions across institutions offering the programme.
The new arrangement will take effect from the current admission session and is aimed at creating a centralised admission process while addressing illegal and compromised admissions that could affect students after graduation.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) disclosed the decision in a circular dated September 9, 2026, signed by its Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje.
The circular followed a meeting between the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and officials from JAMB, NBTE, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Federal Ministry of Education.
JAMB to centralise HND admissions
According to the NBTE, all HND admissions across institutions will now be processed through JAMB.
The board said the centralised system would help prevent irregular admissions and reduce cases where students with questionable admission records later face difficulties with NYSC mobilisation after completing their HND programmes.
“All HND admissions in all institutions shall from this session be taken over by JAMB to provide 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 release a detailed statement on the policy, including further implementation guidelines.
NBTE to develop HND admission guidelines
NBTE said it would immediately develop comprehensive guidelines for HND admissions and submit them to JAMB to support the implementation of the digital admission platform.
The guidelines are expected to clarify requirements for National Diploma holders seeking admission into HND programmes.
They will also address the required waiting period between obtaining an ND and proceeding to HND, as well as exemptions that may apply to certain ND health-related programmes.
New limit for part-time ND admissions
The government has also approved a new limit for part-time National Diploma admissions following the decision to place such admissions under JAMB.
Under the new arrangement, the number of part-time ND students admitted by an institution will be limited to 50 per cent of its approved full-time admission quota.
“Now that all part-time ND admissions are under the JAMB, the proportion of part-time students is pegged at 50 per cent of the approved full-time quota,” NBTE stated.
The measure introduces a defined ceiling for part-time admissions while bringing the process under the centralised JAMB system.
NBTE reaffirms NCE/HND position on NYSC
The Federal Government also reaffirmed an earlier NBTE directive concerning candidates who hold combined NCE and HND qualifications.
In a circular issued on September 7, NBTE prohibited the presentation of candidates with an NCE/HND combination for NYSC mobilisation.
The latest decisions are therefore expected to bring greater uniformity to admission and mobilisation processes involving polytechnics and other institutions offering HND programmes.
