The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed tertiary institutions found to be engaging in irregular admission practices to immediately reverse such admissions.
According to the Board, investigations revealed cases where candidates with higher rankings were bypassed in favour of those with lower scores—an action JAMB says clearly violates established admission guidelines.
The directive was announced in JAMB’s weekly bulletin, issued by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin.
Why JAMB Issued the Directive:
JAMB explained that admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions are governed by a strict three-tier framework:
- Merit
- Catchment Area
- Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS)
Across all three tiers, ranking remains the deciding factor.
“Each tier is guided strictly by ranking, such that candidates with higher rankings must be selected first, followed by others in descending order,” the Board stated.
JAMB warned that skipping a better-ranked candidate for a lower-ranked one under any category will not be tolerated.
Immediate Action Against Affected Institutions:
The Board confirmed that institutions found culpable have been cautioned and instructed to reverse all affected admissions without delay.
“The Board has cautioned the affected institutions and directed the immediate reversal of such irregular admissions,” the bulletin noted.
JAMB also reiterated its call on all tertiary institutions to strictly comply with admission guidelines going forward.
Clarification on UNN Admission Complaint:
JAMB also addressed a separate complaint by a candidate who alleged she was unfairly denied admission by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) despite having high scores.
Following a review, the Board dismissed the claim, explaining that several candidates with higher rankings were ahead of her.
“Her non-admission was in line with due process, as she did not rank high enough to be within the selected limit,” JAMB stated.
While acknowledging that some institutions had breached admission rules, the Board clarified that the complainant was not among those affected by the identified irregularities.
Warning Against Unverified Social Media Claims:
JAMB cautioned candidates against spreading unverified allegations online, urging them to seek clarification through official channels.
“Candidates are advised not to allow themselves to be used by individuals seeking attention or followership on social media through baseless allegations,” the Board warned.
Key Takeaway for Candidates and Institutions:
JAMB reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, transparency, and merit-based admissions, stressing that:
- Higher-ranked candidates must always be given priority
- Institutions that violate admission rules will face corrective action
- Candidates should rely on official channels for admission concerns
With this move, JAMB says it is determined to ensure that no candidate is unfairly displaced in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process.
