The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified its position regarding the recent claims by some Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates who have accused it of being responsible for their inability to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
In a statement released on Monday, JAMB emphasised that it has no involvement in the admissions process for HND candidates and, therefore, cannot be held accountable for their NYSC mobilization issues.
Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s spokesman, issued a statement in response to the allegations.
He stressed that JAMB’s responsibilities are clearly defined by law and do not extend to HND admissions or the NYSC mobilization process.
“It is important to emphasize that JAMB has no involvement, authority, or control over the admissions process for HND candidates,” Benjamin said.
He explained that JAMB’s role is limited to determining matriculation requirements and conducting examinations for undergraduate admissions, including National Diploma (ND) and Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) courses.
“The Board shall not be responsible for examinations or any other selective processes for postgraduate courses or any other courses offered by tertiary institutions,” the statement added.
The NYSC is a one-year mandatory program for graduates of tertiary institutions, aimed at promoting national unity and development.
Graduates of both university and polytechnic programs are required to participate in the scheme, although there have been concerns and confusion among some HND graduates about their eligibility.
JAMB, established by Act No. 2 of 1978, is responsible for overseeing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and other related admissions processes for undergraduate courses.
Its responsibilities are explicitly stated in Section 5(2) of the JAMB Act, which outlines its role in undergraduate admissions but excludes involvement in HND programs.
Recent complaints from HND graduates have suggested that their inability to participate in the NYSC was due to JAMB’s actions or inactions.
Some graduates claimed that their admission into HND programs was problematic because they had completed their National Diploma (ND) on a part-time basis, which, according to them, affected their NYSC mobilization.
JAMB’s statement refuted these claims, asserting that the Board had no control or authority over HND admissions and therefore could not influence NYSC mobilization.
The statement noted that many of these graduates were admitted into their institutions for ND programs without JAMB’s involvement.
“Most of the students were reported to have been admitted into their institution for National Diploma (ND) without the knowledge of the Board,” the statement said.
“With this, the Board graciously condoned and endorsed the said admission for ND programme and that was the only relationship with such candidates.
“Their subsequent admission to HND is unknown and irrelevant to the mandate of the Board.”
JAMB’s response aims to address the confusion and frustration among the affected graduates by clarifying the Board’s limited role.
The statement urged the public to disregard the accusations against JAMB as unfounded and misdirected.
“Some of these candidates have crossed the lines of criminality which the Board will soon appropriately address,” Benjamin warned.
“The public is urged to disregard the accusations labelled against the Board as it has no mandate on such matters.”
