The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a major reform in the nation’s education sector, stating that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will no longer be a compulsory requirement for admission into tertiary institutions.
According to the new directive introduced under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, this policy aims to expand access to higher education and provide students with more opportunities to gain admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.
For years, millions of students have sat for JAMB, yet only a fraction gained admission. The government believes that the challenge lies not with the students, but with the restrictive admission processes.
Under the new reform, tertiary institutions are now empowered to admit students based on their SSCE results. For university admission, candidates must possess at least five credits in relevant subjects, including English Language. Mathematics will be required only for courses in Science, Technology, and Social Sciences.
For ND programmes in polytechnics, a minimum of four credits including English Language is required, while HND programmes will require five credits, including English and Mathematics.
This policy does not abolish JAMB/UTME, but it significantly reduces its role as the sole admission pathway. Institutions now have greater autonomy to admit students directly based on their WAEC or NECO results, ensuring fairness and increasing access to tertiary education for all qualified candidates.
