Confirmed: The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has directed that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will now handle all Higher National Diploma (HND) admissions across Nigerian polytechnics, allied institutions, colleges of nursing sciences, and health technology institutions, effective from the current academic session.
The directive is contained in a circular dated September 9, 2026, signed by NBTE Executive Secretary Prof. Idris Bugaje, and JAMB’s Head of Media and Information, Fabian Benjamin, has confirmed the board will comply.
Key Highlights
- What changed: All HND admissions in polytechnics, monotechnics, colleges of nursing sciences, and health technology institutions will now be processed through JAMB instead of individual institutions.
- Effective: Current 2026/2027 academic session.
- Source document: NBTE circular dated September 9, 2026, signed by Executive Secretary Prof. Idris Bugaje.
- Reason given: To create a centralised admission process and stop illegal or compromised admissions that have jeopardised graduates’ NYSC mobilisation.
- NCE holders: Can only enter HND programmes through JAMB “direct admission,” and must first hold a valid ND before proceeding to HND.
- NYSC recognition: Only the ND-plus-HND combination will now count for NYSC mobilisation; the NCE/HND combination will no longer be accepted.
- Part-time ND admissions: Also brought under JAMB, capped at 50% of each institution’s approved full-time quota.
- JAMB’s position: Confirmed it will implement the directive as instructed by the Federal Ministry of Education.
What the NBTE Circular Says
NBTE’s circular follows a high-level meeting involving the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, along with JAMB, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), NBTE, and the Federal Ministry of Education. The board says the move is meant to end the pattern of unauthorised or “backdoor” admissions into HND programmes that have left many graduates unable to secure NYSC mobilisation.
The circular states that all HND admissions “shall, from this session, be taken over by JAMB to provide a centralised process and avoid illegal and compromised admissions, jeopardising students’ mobilisation for NYSC after HND.” The directive was addressed to rectors and provosts of all affected institutions, with a warning that non-compliance could put an institution’s operating licence at risk.
Who Is Affected
The directive covers:
- Polytechnics and monotechnics
- Allied institutions offering HND programmes
- Colleges of nursing sciences
- Health technology institutions
Admissions will only be granted for accredited programmes and within each institution’s approved carrying capacity.
What Changes for NCE, ND, and HND Students
Under the new directive:
- NCE holders wanting to proceed to HND can no longer do so through institution-managed direct entry. They must go through JAMB’s “direct admission” route and must first obtain a valid ND before advancing to HND studies.
- NYSC mobilisation will now only recognise the ND-plus-HND pathway. The NCE-to-HND combination, previously used by some graduates, will no longer be accepted for NYSC purposes.
- Part-time ND admissions are now also processed through JAMB, and part-time enrolment is capped at 50% of an institution’s approved full-time quota.
NBTE has also said it will immediately develop HND Admission Guidelines and submit them to JAMB to guide the new digital admission platform, including the waiting period ND holders must observe before proceeding to HND and possible exemptions for certain ND health-related programmes.
Outstanding Cases and NYSC Backlog
NBTE says steps have also been approved to resolve outstanding cases involving eligible ND part-time and HND full-time students, with the goal of allowing affected graduates to participate in NYSC mobilisation. This is aimed at addressing the backlog of HND graduates who have previously been blocked from mobilisation due to irregular admission records.
JAMB’s Response
JAMB’s Head of Media and Information, Fabian Benjamin, told reporters the board would comply with the directive. According to Benjamin, the change is a directive from the Federal Government, and JAMB’s role is to ensure it is properly implemented.
What ND and HND Students Should Do Now
- If you are an NCE holder planning to pursue HND, confirm with JAMB and your target institution whether you need a valid ND first before you can be considered.
- If you are already an ND holder aiming for HND admission this session, watch for JAMB’s announcement of the new digital admission process, since institutions can no longer admit HND candidates directly.
- If you have an existing NCE/HND record and are concerned about NYSC mobilisation, monitor communication from your institution and NBTE for guidance on resolving outstanding cases.
- Keep checking your JAMB profile and your institution’s official channels, since further guidelines are still being finalised by NBTE.
This is a developing policy area and CampusNinja will update this page as JAMB and NBTE release the full HND Admission Guidelines and the digital platform for the new process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new JAMB HND admission directive about?
NBTE has directed that JAMB take over all HND admissions in polytechnics, allied institutions, colleges of nursing sciences, and health technology institutions, to centralise the process and stop illegal or compromised admissions.
When does this take effect?
The directive applies from the current 2026/2027 academic session, according to the NBTE circular dated September 9, 2026.
Which institutions are affected?
Polytechnics, monotechnics, allied institutions, colleges of nursing sciences, and health technology institutions offering HND programmes are all affected.
Can NCE holders still gain admission into HND programmes?
Yes, but only through JAMB’s “direct admission” route, and they must first hold a valid ND before proceeding to HND studies. Institutions can no longer admit NCE holders into HND directly.
Will the NCE/HND combination still be accepted for NYSC mobilisation?
No. Under the new directive, only the ND-plus-HND combination will be recognised for NYSC mobilisation going forward.
What happens to part-time ND admissions?
Part-time ND admissions are now also processed through JAMB, and part-time enrolment is capped at 50% of each institution’s approved full-time quota.
Has JAMB agreed to implement this directive?
Yes. JAMB’s Head of Media and Information, Fabian Benjamin, has publicly confirmed that the board will comply with the directive from the Federal Government.
What should current ND or HND students do while this policy rolls out?
Monitor your JAMB profile and your institution’s official announcements. NBTE says it is still developing detailed HND Admission Guidelines and a digital platform to support the new process, so more specific steps will follow.
Is there a resolution plan for students previously blocked from NYSC due to admission irregularities?
NBTE says steps have already been approved to resolve outstanding cases involving eligible ND part-time and HND full-time students, with the aim of allowing affected graduates to be mobilised for NYSC.
Final Thoughts
This directive marks one of the most significant changes to HND admissions in years, moving the process from individual institutions to a centralised JAMB-run system. If you’re currently on the ND-to-HND or NCE-to-HND pathway, the safest move right now is to hold off on assumptions and wait for JAMB’s official guidelines before making any institutional applications.
If you’re navigating a related JAMB process, our guides on checking your JAMB admission status via CAPS and JAMB Change of Course and Institution cover the steps in detail. We’ll update this page as soon as JAMB or NBTE release the full admission guidelines.
Source: NBTE circular dated September 9, 2026, signed by Executive Secretary Prof. Idris Bugaje, as reported by multiple national outlets including The Punch, Blueprint Newspapers, and Legit.ng.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This policy is still being rolled out, and NBTE has indicated that further guidelines and a digital admission platform are still being developed. Always confirm the latest requirements directly with JAMB or your institution before taking any admission-related action.