FRESH reforms are afoot in Nigeria’s complex tertiary education subsector. Specifically, the Federal Government has decided to exempt candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education programmes and some agriculture-related courses from sitting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. This represents a major shift in Nigeria’s admissions policy.
While the reform may help revive dwindling interest in teacher education and agriculture, the authorities must ensure that the policy does not weaken academic standards or further diminish confidence in the country’s tertiary education system.
According to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, 2.24 million candidates applied for the 2026 UTME, held in April.
At the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced that candidates seeking admission into NCE programmes with a minimum of four credit passes would no longer be required to sit the UTME.
Alausa stated, “Candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME. However, it is imperative to emphasise that such candidates shall mandatorily register with JAMB, and their credentials shall be duly screened, verified, and certified for the issuance of admission letters through CAPS, in accordance with extant regulations.”
