JAMB Clarifies Role in NYSC Mobilization for HND Students Amid Student Concerns

In response to growing concerns from Higher National Diploma (HND) students regarding their exclusion from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified its stance. According to JAMB, it plays no role in the mobilization of HND students for NYSC, urging students to direct their grievances to the appropriate channels. The clarification follows complaints from the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), who believed JAMB was responsible for the non-inclusion of some HND graduates in the mandatory service year.

During a meeting held at JAMB’s headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, the registrar of the board, Ishaq Oloyede, expressed surprise at the accusations. He emphasized that JAMB’s responsibility is limited to conducting entrance examinations for university, national diploma (ND), and Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) programs. HND admissions, Oloyede explained, are handled directly by individual institutions, meaning JAMB is not involved in the NYSC mobilization process for these students.

Oloyede further criticized the misdirected anger of the students, stating, “If something affects you, the first step is to identify the root cause of the issue. JAMB has no hand in the NYSC mobilization of HND students. We only admit students for ND programs, and after graduation, HND admissions are managed by the institutions themselves.”

Addressing concerns raised over part-time polytechnic programs, Oloyede clarified that his criticism was specifically aimed at certain “Daily Part-Time” schemes that exploit students by enrolling them beyond the capacity approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). “Some institutions admit more students than they are authorized to, teaching full-time and part-time students in the same class without proper oversight,” he noted.

The registrar advised the leadership of NAPS to conduct thorough investigations into the root causes of the issues their members face, adding that solving the problem would require proper understanding.

Oloyede also spoke on allegations of corruption within JAMB, especially involving staff in the South-South zone. He confirmed that the board had received anonymous petitions concerning the extortion of students during regularization processes and had already sent a team to investigate. He encouraged students with further evidence to come forward, pledging that any staff found guilty would face legal consequences.

JAMB, according to Oloyede, is committed to transparency and aims to reduce unnecessary physical contact with candidates. This will help minimize cases of extortion while ensuring a more efficient and monitored process.