By Jumoke Olaitan /Funmilayo Adeyemi
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has adopted 150 as the minimum admissible score for universities and colleges of nursing in the 2026 admission exercise.
The board also placed the cut-off mark for polytechnics and monotechnics at 100.
This decision was reached after several deliberations at the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions organised by the board on Monday in Abuja.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who chaired the meeting, said the cut-off marks represented the minimum requirement for admission and must be strictly followed, stressing that candidates must meet the set standard.
In addition, stakeholders at the meeting fixed deadlines for the completion of the 2026 admission exercise across tertiary institutions in the country.
They unanimously agreed that public universities should conclude admissions on or before Oct. 31, 2026, while private universities are expected to complete admissions by Nov. 30, 2026.
Also, polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education were advised to complete their admission processes by Dec. 31, 2026.
Also speaking, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, directed all institutions to carry out their admission exercises strictly within the approved timelines.
Oloyede warned that once the deadline for each category expires, any institution that failed to conclude its admission exrcise would no longer have access to candidates for that session.
He also approved that successful candidates must accept their admission offers within four weeks, noting that failure to accept admission within the stipulated period would lead to withdrawal of such offers.
He noted that affected candidates may become ineligible for further admission consideration in that session.
The registrar added that the policy was aimed at ensuring fairness, transparency and timely completion of admissions across all tertiary institutions in the country. (NAN)
•Scraps UTME for NCE admissions
Candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes in colleges of education will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced this on Monday during JAMB’s 2026 policy meeting in Abuja.
Under the new guidelines, prospective students will only need a minimum of four O-level credits in school certificate to qualify for admission.
According to the minister, the move is designed to ease the administrative burden on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and to “harness the positive orientation towards the teaching profession”.
“Accordingly, candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four (4) credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME,” the minister told the gathering.
“However, it is imperative to emphasise that such candidates shall mandatorily register with JAMB, and their credentials shall be duly screened, verified, and certified for the issuance of admission letters through CAPS, in accordance with extant regulations.”
“In the same vein, this exemption shall extend to candidates seeking admission into national diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses,” the minister said.
“This approach strikes a necessary balance between widening access and preserving the integrity of our admission system. It will not only ease the pressure associated with UTME but also encourage greater participation in teacher education and agricultural programmes, both of which are critical to national development.”
The policy will take effect from next year.
“However, it is imperative to emphasise that such candidates shall mandatorily register with JAMB, and their credentials shall be duly screened, verified, and certified for the issuance of admission letters through CAPS, in accordance with extant regulations.”
“In the same vein, this exemption shall extend to candidates seeking admission into national diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses,” the minister said.
“This approach strikes a necessary balance between widening access and preserving the integrity of our admission system. It will not only ease the pressure associated with UTME but also encourage greater participation in teacher education and agricultural programmes, both of which are critical to national development.”
