The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified its mandate regarding the admission process for Higher National Diploma (HND) students. This followed accusations leveled against JAMB by HND students, claiming that the Board was responsible for their inability to go for their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
However, according to the Spokesperson of JAMB, Fabian Benjamin, the Board has no authority or control over the admission process for HND candidates.
He said, “The law that established JAMB states, ‘For the avoidance of doubt, the board shall be responsible for determining matriculation requirements and conducting examinations leading to undergraduate admissions, as well as for admissions to National Diploma and Nigerian Certificate in Education courses. However, the Board shall not be responsible for examinations or any other selective processes for postgraduate courses or any other courses offered by tertiary institutions.”
He also noted that some students were enrolled into National Diploma (ND) programmes without the knowledge of the Board.
According to him, “Most of the students were reported to have been admitted into their institutions for the National Diploma without the knowledge of the Board. With this, the Board graciously condoned and endorsed the said admission for the ND programme, and that was the only relationship with such candidates.
“Their subsequent admission to HND is unknown and irrelevant to the mandate of the Board. As such, accusing the Board of issues it has no mandate over is preposterous.
“Some of these candidates have crossed the lines of criminality, which the Board will soon appropriately address.”