By Jane Salihu
The Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, has issued a stern warning to universities, polytechnics and colleges of education against offering admissions outside the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), declaring such admissions illegal and liable to attract sanctions.
Speaking at the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja on Monday, Dr. Alausa said the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary education system depends on strict adherence to the transparent admission process managed by JAMB.
He stated unequivocally that any admission conducted outside CAPS would not be recognised by the Federal Government.
“Admissions conducted outside this framework are illegal and will not be recognised. Any institution found to have conducted admissions outside the CAPS will be held accountable, and appropriate sanctions shall be applied without hesitation,” the minister said.
Alausa noted that heads of institutions, whether public or private, risk severe penalties, including the suspension of operating licences and other regulatory actions, if they violate the policy.
According to him, the government is determined to restore order, fairness and credibility to the admissions process and will no longer tolerate parallel admission systems that undermine merit and transparency.
The minister stressed that the warning was not intended as a punitive measure, but as a necessary step to strengthen public confidence in the nation’s higher education system.
He also urged vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts to work closely with JAMB to ensure that all admissions are processed strictly through CAPS.
In her remarks, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Said Ahmad, emphasized that the annual policy meeting remains a vital platform for reviewing admission guidelines, institutional capacities and quality assurance measures aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s tertiary education system. She noted that the gathering reflects the collective commitment of stakeholders to building an admission process that is merit-driven, inclusive, credible and responsive to the nation’s development aspirations.
Professor Ahmad also stressed that expanding access to tertiary education must be balanced with the need to maintain standards, equity and integrity in the admission process. According to her, the Federal Ministry of Education will continue to support reforms that promote transparency and efficiency while leveraging technology and innovation to eliminate malpractice and other irregularities.
She urged stakeholders to remain guided by fairness, accountability and the national interest to ensure that every qualified Nigerian has an equal opportunity to pursue higher education.
The Minister of State further highlighted the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen teacher education and reposition Colleges of Education within the tertiary education ecosystem. She disclosed that, in collaboration with the National Universities Commission, the Ministry is supporting initiatives that will enable Colleges of Education to award degrees, thereby expanding opportunities for students and improving the quality of teacher preparation
The annual policy meeting, convened by JAMB, brings together stakeholders in the education sector to determine admission guidelines, minimum cut-off marks and other key policies for tertiary institutions in Nigeria..
