The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has directed all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to complete their 2025 admission exercises before the end of the year, warning that failure to comply will not be tolerated.
In a bulletin released on Monday, the Board outlined specific timelines for each category of institution. Public universities are required to conclude their admissions by October 31, 2025. Private universities have been given until November 30, 2025, while polytechnics, colleges of education, and innovation enterprise institutions must wrap up their processes no later than December 31, 2025.
According to JAMB, the directive stems from resolutions reached at the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions, which was chaired by the Minister of Education. The move, the Board explained, is aimed at stabilising Nigeria’s academic calendar and ensuring a level playing field for all candidates across the country.
The Board cautioned institutions against using delayed academic sessions as an excuse for extending admission exercises beyond the stipulated dates. Instead, JAMB advised schools to conduct their admissions promptly and archive them until the start of their sessions.
“Even where an institution is not ready to begin a new session, such an institution should conduct its admission and archive it,” the bulletin stated.
JAMB also called on schools still conducting post-UTME screening exercises to conclude them without delay, stressing that adherence to the deadlines was non-negotiable.
“By this directive, all admission processes must be completed within the prescribed timelines,” the Board warned.
The announcement marks another attempt by JAMB to streamline admissions and reduce the disruptions that have plagued Nigeria’s higher education system in recent years. By imposing strict timelines, the Board hopes to enhance transparency, efficiency, and predictability in the admission process while protecting candidates’ opportunities across all institutions.
