“JAMB Clears Air on HND Graduates’ NYSC  Exclusion, Blames Institutions for Admission Irregularities”

“JAMB Clears Air on HND Graduates’ NYSC  Exclusion, Blames Institutions for Admission Irregularities”

The Registrar of Nigeria’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Ishaq Oloyede, has dismissed claims that the examination body is responsible for the non mobilisation of some Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), insisting that the problem stems largely from admission irregularities conducted by tertiary institutions. The clarification comes amid growing complaints from affected graduates who alleged administrative failures prevented their participation in the mandatory national service scheme.
According to Oloyede, JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) remains the only legitimate channel for admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions. He explained that many affected HND holders were admitted through unauthorized or “backdoor” processes outside CAPS, rendering such admissions invalid within Nigeria’s official education database. As a result, the NYSC which relies on verified admission records cannot mobilize graduates whose academic entries are not properly documented within the national system.
The JAMB registrar emphasized that institutions bear full responsibility for ensuring compliance with admission regulations, warning that schools engaging in illegal admissions ultimately jeopardize students’ academic futures. He reiterated that CAPS was introduced to promote transparency, standardisation, and accountability in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process, adding that adherence protects students from post-graduation complications such as NYSC ineligibility and certificate verification disputes.
Education stakeholders say the controversy highlights longstanding coordination challenges between tertiary institutions and regulatory agencies, particularly affecting polytechnic graduates transitioning from National Diploma (ND) to HND programmes. Analysts argue that stronger institutional oversight and improved awareness among prospective students are essential to prevent future occurrences, while urging authorities to develop remedial pathways for affected graduates whose academic progression may have been compromised through no direct fault of their own.