Reverse Irregular Admissions, JAMB Orders Universities
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed universities and other tertiary institutions across Nigeria to immediately reverse all admissions carried out in violation of approved guidelines, warning that failure to comply will attract sanctions
The directive followed investigations by the examination body which revealed that some institutions admitted lower-ranked candidates ahead of those who performed better in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and met the required cut-off marks. JAMB described the practice as unfair, illegal and capable of undermining confidence in the nation’s admission system. In a statement contained in its weekly bulletin, JAMB stressed that all admissions must strictly follow the established three-tier policy of merit, catchment area and educationally less developed states (ELDS). According to the board, candidates with higher scores must be considered first within each category, adding that any deviation amounts to an irregular admission. The board specifically mentioned that institutions found to have bypassed qualified candidates in favour of lower-ranked ones are required to correct such actions immediately by reversing the affected admissions. JAMB noted that the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) remains the only legally recognised platform for processing admissions into tertiary institutions, and any admission conducted outside it is invalid. Recent reports indicated that the directive was prompted by complaints and allegations of admission racketeering in some universities, including cases where candidates with lower UTME rankings were allegedly offered admission over top-scoring applicants. JAMB said its intervention was aimed at protecting deserving candidates and restoring transparency in the process. While urging institutions to comply fully, JAMB also cautioned candidates and members of the public against spreading unverified claims on social media, advising them to rely on official channels for accurate information regarding admissions. The development has sparked reactions among education stakeholders, with many describing the move as a necessary step to curb favoritism and strengthen merit-based admissions. JAMB reaffirmed its commitment to fairness and warned that institutions that repeatedly violate admission rules risk losing their admission privileges.
