FG Clarifies JAMB’s Role in Tertiary Admissions Over New Guidelines

• The Federal Government has addressed recent confusion surrounding new admission guidelines, reaffirming that JAMB remains central to Nigeria’s tertiary admission process.

The Federal Government has debunked claims suggesting that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is no longer required for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, through the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, described the viral reports as false, baseless, and misleading.

“At no point did the Ministry issue or authorize any statement suggesting that JAMB is no longer mandatory for admission into tertiary institutions,” the statement clarified.

JAMB Remains Nigeria’s Admission Gatekeeper

According to the Ministry, JAMB remains the legally empowered body responsible for conducting entrance examinations and coordinating admissions into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.

“The established admission processes through JAMB remain fully operational, and any contrary information should be disregarded in its entirety,” it stated.

Dr. Alausa also warned bloggers and media outlets to verify information before publication, stressing that the spread of fake news could undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s education system.

He assured Nigerians that the Ministry remains committed to protecting the integrity of the admission process, ensuring that merit, fairness, and due process guide all admissions.

New Admission Guidelines Still in Effect

The clarification follows the government’s recent approval of new admission guidelines aimed at expanding access to higher education across Nigeria.

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Under the revised policy:

• Mathematics will now only be compulsory for candidates applying for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
• Universities will continue to require five credits, including English Language.
• Polytechnics and Colleges of Education can admit candidates with a minimum of four relevant credits, depending on the programme.
• The National Innovation Diploma (NID) has been replaced by the National Diploma (ND) issued by Innovation Enterprise Academies to align with national standards.

The Ministry projects that these reforms could enable an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students to gain admission annually — without compromising academic quality.