The Federal Government has announced sweeping changes to Nigeria’s tertiary admission process following the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja on Monday, with the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, unveiling several landmark decisions affecting candidates, institutions, and examination procedures.
In a significant departure from existing practice, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board disclosed that candidates seeking admission into Education programmes and Agriculture related non engineering courses in Colleges of Education and Polytechnics would no longer be required to sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
Alausa confirmed that candidates pursuing the National Certificate in Education programme with a minimum of four credit passes would be exempted from the UTME, provided they still register with JAMB and undergo mandatory credential screening.
“Candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME,” he declared.
The minister added that the exemption would cover National Diploma programmes in non technology agricultural and agriculture related courses. “This exemption shall extend to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non technology agricultural and agriculture related courses,” he noted.
He framed the policy as a measure to widen access without compromising standards. “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,” Alausa stated.
On admission age, the minister announced that 16 years remains the minimum entry age into tertiary institutions. “Following extensive consultations and policy reviews, the government has maintained sixteen (16) years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions,” he said, adding that exceptional cases would be managed under strictly defined guidelines.
Also decided at the policy meeting was the retention of 150 as the minimum UTME score required for university admission into the 2026/27 academic session, a benchmark arrived at after deliberations and a voting exercise among vice chancellors and institutional heads in attendance. The board set 150 as the entry floor for Colleges of Nursing and 100 for polytechnics, while noting that the approved figures represent minimum thresholds only, with individual institutions permitted to demand higher scores based on programme demand and academic standards.
The Federal Government also issued a firm warning to institutions conducting admissions outside the Central Admissions Processing System, declaring such practices illegal. “Let me reiterate, without equivocation, that admissions conducted outside this framework are illegal and will not be recognised,” Alausa warned.
Institutions found in violation risk losing their operating licences. “Any institution found to have conducted admissions outside the CAPS will be held accountable, and appropriate sanctions shall be applied without hesitation,” he stated.
The minister also emphasised the government’s commitment to transparency, calling on tertiary institutions to publish enrolment figures and financial allocations. He described the 2025 agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities as a turning point in resolving longstanding disputes over welfare and institutional funding.
Last Updated on May 11, 2026 by Ola Funmilayo
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