The Federal Government has abolished the use of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination as a mandatory requirement for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The new policy, announced under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and unveiled by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process.
According to the minister, the reform is aimed at removing barriers that have for years hindered millions of qualified students from gaining admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
“This policy is designed to democratize access to higher education,” Alausa said. “Every year, thousands of young Nigerians are denied admission not because they are unqualified, but because of rigid entry structures that do not reflect the realities of our education system.”
Under the new directive, tertiary institutions can now admit students directly using their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results — including WAEC or NECO — without requiring a JAMB score.
For universities, five credits in relevant subjects including English Language will now suffice, while Mathematics remains mandatory only for science, technology, and social science courses.
Polytechnics will require a minimum of four credits including English, and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes will maintain the five-credit benchmark.
Dr. Alausa explained that while JAMB/UTME will still operate, it will no longer be the only admission route, allowing institutions greater autonomy and flexibility in student selection.
“JAMB has played a vital role in standardizing admissions,” the minister added. “However, we believe institutions should have multiple pathways to admit capable students. The goal is inclusion, not exclusion.”
The policy has already sparked widespread reactions among education stakeholders. While some academics hailed the move as a step toward reforming Nigeria’s rigid admission system, others expressed concerns over possible inconsistency in admission standards across institutions.
A university administrator who spoke with PLATFORM TIMES on condition of anonymity described the decision as “bold but delicate,” warning that “without proper oversight, it could create disparities in student quality across schools.”
Education experts, however, believe the new system could boost enrolment rates and ease the burden on families struggling with multiple exam costs.
The Federal Government said it would soon release implementation guidelines to ensure transparency and fairness in how institutions apply the new admission framework.
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