JAMB 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions: Date, Venue, Agenda & What Candidates Must Know
Last Updated on 2 days ago by Haruna Ayuba
The JAMB 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions holds on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the Body of Benchers Auditorium, Plot 688, Institute and Research District, FCC Phase III, Jabi, Abuja. This is the meeting where the minimum UTME cut-off marks for the 2026/2027 academic session will be officially decided. Over 2.2 million candidates registered for the 2026 UTME, making the outcome of this meeting one of the most consequential education decisions of the year.
- Key Highlights
- What Is the JAMB Policy Meeting on Admissions?
- Full Agenda for the May 11 Meeting
- Who Will Be at the Meeting?
- What Cut-Off Mark Should Candidates Expect?
- What Is the NATAP-M Award?
- What Candidates Should Do Before May 11
- What Happens After the May 11 Meeting?
- Frequently Asked Questions — JAMB 2026 Policy Meeting
- Source & Verification
Key Highlights
- Meeting date: Monday, May 11, 2026
- Venue: Body of Benchers Auditorium, Jabi, Abuja
- Primary agenda: Setting minimum UTME cut-off marks for 2026/2027 admissions
- Policy keynote: Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa
- Attendees: Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, NUC, NCCE, NBTE representatives
- Goodwill messages: NELFUND, NYSC, and other stakeholders
- Bonus event: 6th edition of the NATAP-M Awards
- Announced by: Dr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB Head of Media and Publication
- Who it affects: Every candidate who sat the 2026 UTME
What Is the JAMB Policy Meeting on Admissions?
The JAMB Policy Meeting on Admissions is an annual gathering where Nigeria’s tertiary education stakeholders officially agree on the rules governing admissions for the incoming academic session. The meeting determines the minimum acceptable scores for candidates seeking admission into universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other higher institutions across Nigeria.
JAMB describes it as “a crucial annual gathering where stakeholders decide minimum tolerable UTME marks, admission guidelines, and policies for tertiary institutions.” Until the meeting concludes, no institution can lawfully begin admissions for 2026/2027.
Full Agenda for the May 11 Meeting
| Agenda Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum cut-off mark announcement | Officially sets the UTME floor score for all institution types |
| Concessional admission standards | Special benchmarks for candidates in specific circumstances |
| 2026/2027 admission guidelines | Framework all tertiary institutions must follow this cycle |
| Review of 2025 admission exercise | Evaluation of last year’s compliance and violations |
| Application statistics review | Analysis of 2026 UTME candidature and performance data |
| Policy keynote address | Minister of Education Dr Maruf Alausa to present government’s direction |
| Goodwill messages | From NELFUND, NYSC, and other stakeholder agencies |
| NATAP-M Awards (6th edition) | Recognising institutions with strict admission compliance |
Who Will Be at the Meeting?
The meeting will bring together Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, Registrars, and admission officers from tertiary institutions, alongside regulatory bodies including the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, is expected to present key policy directions during the meeting, while agencies including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the National Youth Service Corps will also deliver goodwill messages.
What Cut-Off Mark Should Candidates Expect?
JAMB has not pre-announced the 2026 figure — it will only be revealed on May 11. Here is the recent trend:
| Year | University | Polytechnic / College of Education | Nursing Sciences |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 140 | 100 | — |
| 2025 | 150 | 100 | 140 |
| 2026 | TBA — May 11 | TBA — May 11 | TBA — May 11 |
In 2025, the board set minimum admissible scores at 150 for universities, 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education, and 140 for colleges of nursing sciences. Whether 2026 holds, rises, or drops from those figures will be determined on Monday.
Keep in mind that individual institutions set their own departmental cut-offs, which are always higher than JAMB’s national minimum. The May 11 meeting sets the floor — not the ceiling.
What Is the NATAP-M Award?
The National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Awards (NATAP-M) is a JAMB initiative aimed at improving compliance and raising standards in the admissions process. The 6th edition will be presented during the May 11 meeting. For students, an institution that has won or been recognised by NATAP-M is a signal that your admission was processed transparently and by the rules.
What Candidates Should Do Before May 11
1. Check your JAMB portal. Log in at www.jamb.gov.ng and confirm your 2026 UTME score is displaying correctly and your O’Level results are uploaded.
2. Do not change institution or course yet. Wait for the official cut-off announcement before making any decisions about Change of Institution or Course.
3. Monitor CampusNinja. We will publish the full 2026 cut-off breakdown — by institution type — as soon as JAMB announces it on May 11.
4. Explore NELFUND. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is among the agencies expected to deliver goodwill messages at the meeting — a reminder that students in accredited institutions can apply for federal education loans at nelfund.gov.ng.
What Happens After the May 11 Meeting?
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Cut-off announced (May 11) | JAMB publishes minimum scores for all institution types |
| CAPS activated | JAMB opens the Central Admissions Processing System for institutions |
| Post-UTME screening | Eligible candidates sit their institution’s screening exam |
| Admission offers | Institutions upload provisional offers on CAPS |
| Acceptance | Candidates accept offers on the JAMB portal and pay acceptance fees |
Frequently Asked Questions — JAMB 2026 Policy Meeting
When is the JAMB 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions?
The meeting holds on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the Body of Benchers Auditorium, Jabi, Abuja. The official 2026/2027 cut-off marks will be announced at this meeting.
What will be decided at the JAMB 2026 policy meeting?
Key decisions including the minimum UTME cut-off marks for the 2026/2027 academic session will be determined, and key policy directions will be unveiled by the Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa.
What was the JAMB cut-off mark in 2025?
In 2025, JAMB set the minimum cut-off at 150 for universities, 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education, and 140 for nursing sciences. The 2026 figures will be set on May 11.
Can institutions begin admissions before May 11?
No. Institutions must wait for the cut-off and admission guidelines from the policy meeting before commencing the 2026/2027 admission exercise.
What is the NATAP-M award?
The National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Awards (NATAP-M) is a JAMB initiative that publicly honours institutions for strict compliance with admission guidelines. The 6th edition holds at the May 11 meeting.
Will the 2026 cut-off mark go up or down?
JAMB has not given any indication ahead of May 11. CampusNinja will update this page immediately after the announcement.
Source & Verification
The information in this guide is sourced from an official JAMB statement issued by Dr Fabian Benjamin, Head of Media and Publication, confirmed by Vanguard, Nairametrics, The Sun, and PM News on May 4–5, 2026.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Cut-off marks are set at JAMB’s discretion and are subject to change. Always verify your eligibility on the official JAMB portal at www.jamb.gov.ng after the May 11 announcement.
We’d Love to Hear From You
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Have questions? Drop them in the comment section below. We respond to every single comment. If you want to know whether your score qualifies for a specific school after the cut-off drops, ask us and we’ll help you work it out.
