JAMB threatens to block admissions for schools ignoring matriculation list directive

DDM News

(DDM) – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned that it will withhold approval for admissions in the 2024 and 2025 academic sessions from any Nigerian tertiary institution that fails to submit its official matriculation list, in line with Federal Ministry of Education directives aimed at curbing illegal admissions.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the directive applies to all universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions, with immediate effect once ongoing admission processes are concluded.

The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, issued the warning during a meeting with Admission Desk Officers, stressing that the board will no longer tolerate institutions bypassing established procedures to admit candidates outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

Oloyede revealed that some institutions have yet to submit their matriculation lists for the 2022 and 2023 admission cycles, a violation that could lead to serious consequences, including barring them from future approvals.

While granting a temporary concession for 2024 admissions due to the ongoing processes in certain schools, he made it clear that full compliance will be mandatory once current admissions close.

According to Oloyede, JAMB intends to make “scapegoats” of defaulting institutions to set a precedent. He disclosed that defaulters would be summoned for meetings, and affiliate institutions will be invited alongside their parent institutions to face penalties.

He further directed that public notices be placed in major national dailies warning that admissions from non-compliant institutions will not be approved, thereby putting both prospective students and institutions on alert.

The matriculation list is the official register of students admitted through JAMB’s approved processes and is critical in preventing cases of “illegal admissions” — where candidates are admitted without proper documentation or outside the approved quota system.

Over the years, illegal admissions have led to thousands of students discovering late into their studies that their admission status was invalid, often resulting in academic disruptions, loss of fees, and legal disputes.

The Federal Ministry of Education has maintained that submission of the matriculation list ensures transparency, accountability, and proper record-keeping in Nigeria’s higher education system.

Stakeholders in the education sector note that the practice of bypassing JAMB’s CAPS platform has fueled admission rackets, with some institutions admitting unqualified candidates in exchange for bribes, undermining merit-based selection.

By enforcing the directive, JAMB hopes to strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s tertiary admission process, ensure fairness for qualified candidates, and uphold the integrity of academic records.

The board’s stance signals a tightening of regulatory oversight in the education sector, with clear consequences for institutions that fail to adhere to due process.

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