Illegal admissions:JAMB gives institutions one-month ultimatum to submit list of affected students

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a stern ultimatum to all tertiary institutions involved in illegal admissions before 2017.

Institutions have been given a one-month deadline to submit the list of affected students for “condonement,” in accordance with a waiver granted by the federal government.

Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, made this announcement during a press conference in Abuja, representing the board’s registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede.

Benjamin emphasized that any admissions conducted outside the approved Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) are illegal and will no longer be tolerated.

In a bid to curb fraudulent practices, JAMB has also condemned two dubious admission schemes identified in some polytechnics and universities.

These schemes, labeled as “Daily-Part-Time” (DPT) by certain polytechnics and “Top Up” (TU) by some universities, have been declared fake and fraudulent. Candidates are warned against enrolling in these unapproved programs.

Benjamin highlighted that the CAPS system, introduced in 2017, was designed to ensure accuracy, transparency, and fairness in the admission process. He reiterated that JAMB would no longer absorb illegal admissions through the “Condonement of Illegal Admissions without Registration number” window, which was previously used to regularize unauthorized admissions conducted before 2017.

“In order to close this abused window, the Board has decided that all institutions must disclose all candidates illegally admitted prior to 2017 within the next one month, starting from August 1, 2024. Any admissions not disclosed within this period will no longer be recognized or condoned,” Benjamin stated.

He urged institutions to comply with this directive, as no further condonement will be entertained. This move aims to curb illegal admissions, falsification of records, and ensure adherence to CAPS provisions.

The decision marks the end of the Condonement of Illegal Admissions window, which allowed institutions to incorporate unauthorized admissions into the system. Benjamin expressed concerns over institutions colluding with candidates to falsify details for illegal admissions, leading to fraudulent participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

“CAPS is the only authorized platform for admissions. Candidates illegally admitted between 2017 and 2020 will soon be denied the opportunity of the waiver unless disclosed within the next one month,” Benjamin warned.

Benjamin also reiterated that the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions for the 2024/2025 session remains 16 years.

He cautioned against the increasing trend of falsifying age details on National Identification Number (NIN) slips.

He further denounced the “Daily-Part-Time” (DPT) and “Top Up” (TU) programmes, emphasizing that these schemes are not approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) or the National Universities Commission (NUC). These programmes are fraudulent and designed to sideline quality education, falsify records, and rake in illegitimate income.

Institutions advertising such programmes, especially Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, in Oyo State, have been directed to retract their misleading advertisements immediately. Failure to comply will result in severe sanctions.

Benjamin concluded by urging candidates to pursue education through legitimate and recognized pathways. He reminded them that part-time programs are strictly regulated and distinct from full-time programs.

“Institutions merging part-time and full-time students and purporting to graduate them simultaneously are engaging in fraudulent practices. We advise all candidates to avoid such programmes as they are not recognized and will not be tolerated under any regularization or condonement,” he asserted.