The Federal Government has refuted viral reports alleging that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is no longer mandatory for admission into tertiary institutions across the country.
Several online posts had claimed that the government had scrapped the use of JAMB for university, polytechnic, and college of education admissions, suggesting that individual institutions would now conduct their own entrance examinations.
However, the Ministry of Education has firmly denied the claim. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, quoted the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as describing the report as “false and baseless.”
Alausa clarified that the viral publication did not originate from the Ministry and was never authorised.
“At no point did the Ministry issue or approve any statement suggesting that JAMB is no longer mandatory for admission into tertiary institutions,” the Minister stated.
He reaffirmed that JAMB remains the legally empowered body responsible for conducting entrance examinations and coordinating admissions into all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
“The established admission process through JAMB remains fully operational. Any contrary information should be disregarded in its entirety,” Alausa added.
The Minister urged the public—especially prospective students, parents, and tertiary institutions—to rely solely on official communication channels of the Ministry and JAMB for accurate information regarding admission policies.
He further emphasised the government’s continued partnership with JAMB and other relevant agencies to maintain transparency, fairness, and credibility in the nation’s admission system.
“We remain committed to protecting the integrity of the admission process and ensuring that merit and due process guide all admissions into higher institutions,” he said.
Alausa also cautioned media outlets, bloggers, and online platforms against spreading unverified information capable of misleading the public and causing unnecessary confusion within the education sector.
“Misinformation must be avoided. There has been no change in JAMB’s role, which remains central and indispensable in Nigeria’s tertiary education framework. Any publication or online post claiming otherwise is entirely false and should be treated as such,” he warned.