JAMB Orders Polytechnics to Reverse Irregular Admissions Nationwide

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has directed universities and other tertiary institutions found guilty of irregular admission practices to immediately reverse such admissions, as part of efforts to protect fairness and transparency in Nigeria’s higher education system.

The examination body disclosed that it uncovered cases where candidates with higher rankings were allegedly bypassed in favour of applicants with lower scores, a practice it described as a clear violation of established admission guidelines.

The directive was contained in the Board’s weekly bulletin issued in Abuja, where JAMB raised concerns over the conduct of admissions by some tertiary institutions. According to the Board, admissions into Nigerian higher institutions are strictly regulated and must follow approved procedures without exception.

JAMB stated that decisive actions had already been taken against institutions involved in the identified irregularities, including formal warnings and directives to reverse all affected admissions with immediate effect. The Board emphasized that compliance with admission regulations is mandatory and not subject to institutional discretion.

The Board reiterated that admissions are governed by a clearly defined three tier framework comprising Merit, Catchment Area and Educationally Less Developed States. It stressed that ranking remains the determining factor at every stage of the admission process.

According to JAMB, candidates must be selected strictly in order of ranking within each category, with higher ranked candidates considered first before others in descending order. Any situation in which a better ranked candidate is skipped in favour of a lower ranked candidate under any category will not be tolerated.

Meanwhile, the Board dismissed a separate allegation by a candidate who claimed she was unfairly denied admission by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, despite scoring high marks. JAMB explained that its findings showed the candidate was not disadvantaged, as several applicants with higher rankings were ahead of her during the selection process.

The Board clarified that the candidate’s non admission was consistent with due process, as she did not rank high enough to fall within the institution’s admission limit. While acknowledging that some institutions had breached admission rules, JAMB stated that the complainant was not among those affected by the identified irregularities.

Reaffirming its commitment to equity and transparency, the Board stressed that no candidate with a higher ranking should be displaced by one with a lower ranking in the admission process.

JAMB also cautioned candidates against spreading unverified claims of admission manipulation on social media, urging them to seek clarification through official and appropriate channels. The Board warned that misinformation could mislead the public and undermine confidence in the admission system.

The latest directive underscores JAMB’s resolve to strengthen oversight of university admissions and ensure that all candidates are treated fairly in line with national education policies and admission guidelines.