The National Board for Technical Education has directed that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board will henceforth handle admissions into Higher National Diploma programmes across polytechnics and other allied institutions in Nigeria.
The directive, which takes effect from the current admission session, covers HND admissions in polytechnics, colleges of nursing sciences, health technology institutions and other institutions under the regulatory purview of the NBTE.
The development marks a significant change in the administration of HND admissions, as the process will now be centralised through JAMB rather than being handled independently by individual institutions.
The NBTE directive was contained in a circular dated September 9, 2026, and signed by its Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, for implementation by rectors, provosts and heads of the affected institutions.
Under the new arrangement, institutions offering HND programmes are expected to comply with JAMB’s central admission process. The move is expected to strengthen regulatory oversight and create a more uniform admission framework across the technical and vocational higher-education system.
The directive also carries significant consequences for institutions that fail to comply. According to reports on the circular, rectors and provosts were warned that violations of the directive could attract regulatory sanctions, including consequences for their institutions’ operating licences.
The decision comes amid continuing efforts by the Federal Government to improve the regulation of admissions into polytechnics and other technical institutions and address irregularities associated with admission processes.
The new arrangement also places greater responsibility on JAMB, which already manages admissions into several categories of tertiary institutions and maintains the central admission infrastructure used to process candidates.
The policy is particularly significant for HND applicants because the qualification represents the advanced stage of the National Diploma pathway offered by polytechnics. Candidates generally proceed to HND after completing an ND programme and meeting the relevant admission requirements.
The centralisation could also make it easier for regulators to track admissions and verify candidates’ progression through the polytechnic system, particularly at a time when concerns have been raised over admission irregularities and the documentation of polytechnic graduates.
The development follows previous changes in the management of HND admissions. In March 2026, JAMB had clarified that it was not responsible for HND admissions at the time, while the NBTE had operated a centralised HND application arrangement through its own platform. The latest directive therefore represents a major shift in responsibility from the existing system.
For prospective HND students, the change means that admission procedures will increasingly be tied to the central processes established by JAMB. Applicants will need to pay close attention to official admission guidelines from JAMB, NBTE and their chosen institutions as implementation of the policy progresses.
The directive is expected to affect thousands of prospective HND candidates seeking admission into polytechnics and allied institutions across the country, while institutions are expected to align their admission procedures with the new regulatory framework.
With JAMB now positioned to coordinate HND admissions, the policy could further strengthen the central monitoring of Nigeria’s tertiary admission system and provide a common framework for regulating access to HND programmes nationwide.
