JAMB gives tertiary institutions one month ultimatum to reveal illegal admissions

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has instructed all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to disclose any admissions processed outside its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) prior to 2017 within the next month.

Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Public Communication Advisor for JAMB, announced this directive at a press briefing in Abuja on behalf of the board’s registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede. The directive aims to improve transparency and fairness in the admissions process.

The board has noted that some institutions have admitted candidates outside the approved CAPS platform, often using unauthorized channels to legitimize these admissions.

To address this issue, JAMB is mandating that all institutions disclose any such illegal admissions made before 2017 by August 31, 2024. After this period, admissions purportedly granted prior to 2017 will no longer be recognized or accepted unless they are disclosed during this one-month window.

JAMB warned that any admissions not recorded in CAPS will not be condoned, and institutions must comply with this directive to avoid further condonement of undisclosed candidates.

This decision effectively ends the practice of incorporating unauthorized admissions into the system and aims to curb illegal admissions and record falsification.

Additionally, JAMB has reiterated that the minimum age for admission remains 16 years for the 2024/2025 session. Candidates must be at least 16 years old by the time of admission. This follows a directive from the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, to enforce the 6-3-3-4 policy from the 2025 session. JAMB has noted a troubling increase in false affidavits and doctored age adjustments, emphasizing that candidates below 16 will not be admitted.

Benjamin also addressed a new, concerning trend involving “Daily-Part-Time” programs and “Top Up” courses offered by some polytechnics and universities.

These programs, such as the one advertised by Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, are not approved by the National Board for Technical Education or the National Universities Commission. They are considered fraudulent attempts to bypass quality standards, falsify records, and exploit candidates.