The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Is-haq Oloyede, has clarified that the Board is not responsible for the admission of Higher National Diploma students or for the inability of some graduates to be mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps scheme.
Oloyede made this known during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students, led by Comrade Eshofune Paul Oghayan.
The clarification was contained in a bulletin released by JAMB on Monday and signed by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin.
Over the years, many HND graduates especially those who obtained their National Diploma through part-time or non-regular programmes before enrolling in full-time HND studies have faced challenges in being mobilised for the NYSC scheme.
Generally, eligibility for the national service programme requires that a graduate must have completed their highest qualification through full-time study. However, irregularities in admission processes, including part-time ND classifications or unprocessed admission records, sometimes lead to graduates being denied mobilisation or issued exemption certificates instead.
These situations have triggered frustration among affected polytechnic graduates, some of whom have blamed JAMB for alleged problems related to admission data or processing.
Responding to the concerns, Oloyede explained that JAMB’s mandate is limited to organising examinations and facilitating admissions into first-degree, National Diploma and Nigerian Certificate in Education programmes.
He stressed that the Board does not handle HND admissions.
“The Board is not responsible for admitting HND students into polytechnics and therefore has no data to support their mobilisation into the NYSC scheme,” Oloyede said.
He advised the students to direct their complaints to the appropriate authorities responsible for HND admissions.
According to him, once candidates complete their ND programmes and proceed to HND, the responsibility for their admission lies solely with the institutions offering the programmes and not JAMB.
Oloyede also highlighted the role of JAMB’s automated Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), which oversees admission processes into tertiary institutions across the country.
He said CAPS was introduced to streamline admissions, enhance transparency, restore institutional autonomy and prevent multiple admissions.
The Registrar warned that any admission conducted outside the system is considered invalid.
“CAPS automates the admissions process into tertiary institutions, addresses challenges associated with the manual system and gives candidates information about available institutions and programmes,” he explained.
Oloyede further revealed that some institutions admit more ND students than the quota approved by the National Board for Technical Education.
According to him, such practices often create discrepancies between ND graduates and their HND counterparts, particularly when the HND programme is offered in a different institution.
He also criticised certain “Daily Part-Time” HND programmes, describing them as exploitative and warning that graduates of such unconventional programmes are often rejected by NYSC, making mobilisation impossible.
The JAMB Registrar disclosed that some polytechnics had engaged in illegal admission practices, noting that one institution alone reportedly recorded more than 42,000 irregular cases.
“If institutions follow the proper procedures, there will be no issues. On our part, we will continue to provide quality services that benefit all stakeholders. Everyone must ensure things are done the right way,” Oloyede advised.