The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has cautioned tertiary institutions against violating established admission procedures, especially the practice of overlooking higher-ranked candidates in favour of those with lower rankings.
As part of its response, the Board has instructed the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), along with other affected institutions, to immediately reverse any admissions carried out in breach of the guidelines.
In its Weekly Bulletin obtained in Abuja, JAMB stressed that the admission process must strictly follow ranking order, noting that no candidate with a superior ranking should be displaced by one ranked lower. The Board explained that admissions are guided by a three-tier framework—Merit, Catchment Area, and Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS)—with each category operating strictly on merit-based ranking. Candidates with the highest rankings are to be considered first, followed by others in descending order.
JAMB also addressed a recent claim by a candidate who alleged that despite a high score, she was denied admission into UNN. The Board dismissed the allegation, stating that investigations showed the candidate was not unfairly treated, as several candidates with higher rankings were ahead of her on the admission list.
The Board noted that while some cases were identified where better-ranked candidates were wrongly skipped, and such admissions have been ordered reversed, the said candidate was not affected by these irregularities. Her non-admission, JAMB clarified, was consistent with due process, as her ranking did not fall within the admission cut-off.
Reaffirming its stance, JAMB warned that any situation where a higher-ranked candidate is bypassed for a lower-ranked one under any of the admission categories would not be tolerated. The Board further advised candidates to be cautious and avoid being misled by individuals who promote unfounded allegations for personal or social media gain.
Candidates were urged to confirm claims of admission irregularities through official and appropriate channels before spreading or endorsing such reports, as JAMB reiterated its commitment to fairness and transparency in the admission process.
