The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Is-haq Oloyede, has clarified that the examination body is not responsible for the inability of some Higher National Diploma graduates to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Oloyede made the clarification during a meeting with leaders of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), led by Comrade Eshofune Paul Oghayan.
The discussion was aimed at addressing concerns raised by polytechnic students and graduates about the growing number of Higher National Diploma (HND) holders who have been unable to join the mandatory national service scheme.
The details of the meeting were contained in a bulletin released by JAMB on Monday and signed by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin.
In recent years, many polytechnic graduates have complained about difficulties in being mobilised for the NYSC programme after completing their HND studies.
Under Nigerian law, graduates of universities and polytechnics who are below the age of 30 are required to participate in the one-year national service scheme.
However, some graduates have discovered that they cannot be mobilised after finishing their studies.
In many cases, affected graduates are instead issued exemption certificates, which confirm they are not eligible to serve.
This situation has created frustration among polytechnic alumni, particularly those who followed the traditional academic path of first obtaining a National Diploma before proceeding to HND programmes.
Some of the graduates have blamed JAMB, believing that errors in admission records or data processing could be responsible for their inability to participate in the scheme.
Speaking at the meeting, Oloyede explained that JAMB’s responsibility in Nigeria’s education system is limited to conducting entrance examinations and coordinating admissions into certain tertiary programmes.
These programmes include first-degree courses in universities, National Diploma programmes in polytechnics, and the Nigerian Certificate in Education programmes in colleges of education.
According to him, JAMB does not handle admissions into HND programmes.
“The Board is not responsible for admitting HND students into polytechnics and, therefore, has no data to facilitate their entry into the NYSC scheme,” Oloyede said.
He explained that once a student completes a National Diploma programme and wishes to proceed to an HND programme, the admission process is handled directly by the polytechnic or institution offering the programme.
As a result, JAMB does not maintain records of HND admissions.
Oloyede said many of the problems affecting HND graduates are linked to irregularities in the admission process at some institutions.
He explained that a common issue involves students who completed their National Diploma on a part-time or non-regular basis and later enrolled in full-time HND programmes.
The NYSC scheme typically requires that the highest qualification used for mobilisation must have been obtained through full-time study.
If a student’s earlier qualification was obtained through a part-time programme, the graduate may not be eligible for mobilisation.
In such situations, the NYSC usually issues an exemption certificate instead of allowing the graduate to participate in the national service programme.
These rules have caused confusion among some polytechnic graduates who expected to be mobilised after completing their HND studies.
Oloyede also explained that JAMB currently manages admissions into tertiary institutions through its automated system known as the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
The system was introduced to improve transparency and efficiency in the admission process.
According to the JAMB registrar, CAPS allows institutions to process admissions electronically while ensuring that candidates can monitor their admission status.
He said the system helps prevent multiple admissions, promotes fairness, and restores autonomy to institutions while still maintaining oversight.
“CAPS automates the admissions process into tertiary institutions, addresses challenges associated with the manual approach, and empowers candidates with information on available institutions and programmes,” Oloyede said.
He warned that any admission conducted outside the CAPS platform is considered invalid.
Oloyede also criticized some institutions for failing to follow proper admission procedures.
He said certain polytechnics admit more students into National Diploma programmes than the numbers approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
When this happens, the extra students may not be properly documented in official admission records.
This can later create problems when those students attempt to proceed to HND programmes or apply for NYSC mobilisation.
The registrar explained that such irregularities may lead to discrepancies between ND and HND records, especially if the HND programme is taken at a different institution.
Another issue raised by the JAMB registrar involves what he described as “Daily Part-Time” programs.
These programs, offered by some institutions, allow students to attend classes during the day but are still classified as part-time programmes.
According to Oloyede, such programmes can create problems for graduates who later seek NYSC mobilisation.
This is because the NYSC may not recognise certain unconventional or irregular academic pathways.
He criticised the practice, describing some of these programmes as exploitative.
“Some polytechnics have conducted illegal admissions, with one institution reportedly having over 42,000 irregular cases,” he said.
Oloyede advised students and graduates who are facing NYSC mobilisation problems to direct their complaints to the appropriate authorities.
He stressed that the institutions responsible for HND admissions must ensure that their processes comply with official regulations.
According to him, following proper procedures from the beginning will prevent many of the problems currently affecting graduates.
“If institutions follow the proper process, there would be no problem,” he said.
He added that JAMB would continue to perform its duties in accordance with its legal mandate.
“On our part, we will continue to render quality service beneficial to all stakeholders. Let’s do things properly,” Oloyede advised.
The challenges faced by some HND graduates have once again drawn attention to broader concerns about Nigeria’s polytechnic education system.
Many education experts believe stronger coordination between institutions, regulatory bodies, and government agencies is necessary to prevent administrative errors that affect graduates.
They also say clearer communication is needed so that students understand the rules governing admissions and eligibility for the NYSC programme.
For many polytechnic students, participation in the NYSC scheme remains an important step after graduation, providing opportunities for employment, national integration, and career development.
