The Federal Government has announced a series of reforms aimed at improving transparency, access, and integrity in Nigeria’s tertiary admissions process.
The reforms were unveiled on Monday during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in Abuja, according to a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed that candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes with a minimum of four credit passes would no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
According to the minister, the exemption will also apply to applicants seeking admission into selected non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related National Diploma programmes.
He, however, clarified that all prospective candidates must still register with JAMB and process their admissions through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
Alausa reaffirmed that admissions conducted outside CAPS remain illegal and would not be recognised by the Federal Government. He also reiterated that sixteen years remained the minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions nationwide.
Stakeholders at the meeting approved 150 as the minimum admissible score for universities and colleges of nursing for the 2026/2027 academic session, while 100 was adopted for polytechnics.
The minister said the new reforms are designed to strengthen digital transformation, promote inclusive education, and ensure uninterrupted academic calendars across tertiary institutions.
The meeting also revealed that more than 2.2 million candidates registered for the 2026 UTME examination.
Institutions across the country were further warned against illegal admissions and the issuance of fake admission letters.
