The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a one-month ultimatum to all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to disclose any admissions conducted outside its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) before 2017. This directive, announced by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, on behalf of the board’s registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, aims to enhance transparency and fairness in the admissions process.
Dr. Benjamin emphasized the need for institutions to comply, stating, “The attention of the board has been drawn to the predilection of some institutions to admit candidates outside the approved CAPS platform and process such through the condonement of illegal admissions window to accord legitimacy. To close this abused window, the board has decided that all institutions should now (or never) disclose all candidates illegally admitted prior to 2017, whose records are in their system within the next one month, beginning from 1st August 2024.”
The board warned that any undisclosed admissions from before 2017 would no longer be recognized. Institutions are urged to comply with this directive, as there will be no further tolerance for unrecorded candidates who did not register with JAMB or sit for any entrance examinations. This move aims to curb illegal admissions and record falsifications, ensuring compliance with CAPS provisions.
Dr. Benjamin expressed concerns over institutions colluding with candidates to falsify details for illegal admissions, which has led to fraudulent participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. Despite warnings, some institutions continued to admit candidates outside CAPS and seek condonement of undisclosed illegal institutional admissions.
“Consequently, the board is terminating the aspect of the CUIIA process which allows completely unregistered candidates (without registration) to be introduced to the system. CAPS is the only authorized platform for admissions. Those who even have registration but were illegally admitted between the period (2017-2020) would soon be denied the opportunity of the waiver unless they are disclosed within the next one month,” he stated.
The board reiterated that the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions for the 2024/2025 session remains 16 years. Candidates who will be at least 16 years old at the time of admission will be considered eligible. This follows a directive from the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, to enforce the extant policy of 6-3-3-4 only from the 2025 session.
Benjamin also expressed concern over new and unauthorized admission practices, such as “Daily-Part-Time” by certain polytechnics and “Top Up” by some universities. He cited a recent example from Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, in Oyo State, which advertised a two-year Daily-Part-Time program not approved by the National Board for Technical Education or the National Universities Commission.
“These fraudulent devices sideline quality, approved quotas for full-time admission, falsify records, and consequently, rake in illegitimate income and derail the ambition and career of innocent candidates. The board will not tolerate any undisclosed admission by any institution,” he concluded.
