Clarification on JAMB’s Role
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has stated that it is not responsible for the non-mobilization of Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). This announcement comes amid ongoing concerns from polytechnic graduates regarding their eligibility for the NYSC scheme.
According to Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the JAMB registrar, “The Board is not responsible for admitting HND students into polytechnics and, therefore, has no data to facilitate their entry into the NYSC scheme.” This clarification highlights the distinct roles of JAMB and polytechnics in the admissions process.
JAMB primarily conducts entrance examinations and manages admissions into tertiary institutions through its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). It does not admit candidates into HND programmes, which are the responsibility of individual polytechnics.
Recent reports indicate that some polytechnics have conducted illegal admissions, leading to discrepancies in records that further complicate the mobilization of HND graduates for the NYSC. Prof. Oloyede emphasized the importance of following proper processes, stating, “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.”
In 2026, JAMB registered a total of 2,243,816 candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with significant numbers coming from Lagos (321,814), Kaduna (303,498), and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (302,963).
For the 2026 UTME registration exercise, JAMB remitted ₦1.57 billion to accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, with a service charge of ₦700 per candidate. However, CBT operators have expressed concerns that this fee no longer reflects the actual cost of delivering the service, citing rising expenses for diesel, internet, and maintenance.
Looking ahead, JAMB projects an internally generated revenue of ₦23.8 billion for 2026, an increase of ₦4 billion from the 2025 target. The board has also created 1,000 examination centres to accommodate the growing number of candidates.
Despite the clarifications from JAMB, the issue of HND graduates’ mobilization for NYSC remains a contentious topic, with many graduates still facing challenges. Details remain unconfirmed regarding any potential resolutions or changes to the current system.