FG APPROVES MAJOR ADMISSION REFORM: Some NCE and ND Programmes to Admit Without UTME from 2026

The Federal Government has approved a new admission policy that will allow candidates seeking admission into certain NCE and ND programmes to gain admission through JAMB without sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The new directive, which is expected to take effect from the 2026/2027 academic session, forms part of broader reforms aimed at improving admission processes and addressing irregular admissions conducted outside the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
According to the operational guidelines released for the implementation of the policy, candidates applying for admission into National Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes will no longer be required to sit for UTME before being considered for admission.
The exemption also extends to candidates seeking admission into ND Non-Technology Agriculture and Agriculture-related programmes in Polytechnics and Colleges of Agriculture.
Despite the UTME exemption, all prospective candidates are still required to apply through the JAMB platform and obtain JAMB application forms before admission can be processed.
JAMB Application Still Mandatory
The new policy does not completely remove JAMB from the admission process. Instead, it changes the mode of admission for the affected programmes.
The guidelines clearly state that all admissions into the affected institutions and programmes must still be processed strictly through JAMB CAPS. In addition, applicants will still be required to upload their O’Level results on the JAMB portal before they can be considered for admission.
Admission letters for all affected programmes will also be issued exclusively by JAMB after proper verification and compliance checks.
FG Declares Admissions Outside CAPS Illegal
The Federal Government also used the opportunity to warn institutions against conducting admissions outside the JAMB CAPS system.
According to the statement, any admission conducted outside CAPS will henceforth be regarded as illegal and void.
Provosts, Rectors, and Principal Officers of tertiary institutions have therefore been directed to immediately stop issuing institutional admission letters to prospective students outside the approved JAMB process.
The government further stated that regular monitoring and compliance exercises would be carried out in collaboration with JAMB, the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and other regulatory agencies.
One-Time Condonement Exercise Approved
As part of efforts to resolve previous admission irregularities, the Federal Government has also approved a one-time retroactive condonement exercise for eligible NCE students admitted outside CAPS during the 2025/2026 session.
The condonement exercise is scheduled to run from June 1 to August 30, 2026.
The exercise will cover eligible students transitioning from Year One to Year Two, as well as those moving from Year Two to Year Three in Colleges of Education.
Affected institutions have been instructed to upload details of eligible students onto the JAMB platform within the approved period to ensure proper documentation.
Key Highlights of the New Policy:
• NCE candidates will no longer need to sit for UTME before admission.
• ND Non-Technology Agriculture and Agriculture-related programmes are also exempted from UTME.
• JAMB application remains compulsory for all candidates.
• Admissions must still be processed through JAMB CAPS.
• O’Level result upload remains mandatory.
• Admission letters will only be issued by JAMB.
• Admissions conducted outside CAPS will be considered illegal.
• A one-time condonement exercise will hold from June 1 to August 30, 2026.
The policy is expected to reshape admission procedures for Colleges of Education and some specialised ND programmes across Nigeria beginning from the 2026/2027 academic session.