The Federal Government has declared that any admission into tertiary institutions conducted outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) will henceforth be considered illegal.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, issued the directive on Tuesday during the 2025 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), held in Abuja.

Alausa warned that universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education that engage in unauthorized admissions would face severe penalties. He stated that both institutions and individuals found guilty would be held accountable.

“Any admission conducted outside CAPS, regardless of its intentions, is illegal. Sanctions may include withdrawal of institutional assets and prosecution of culpable officers or governing council members,” the minister said.

CAPS, introduced by JAMB in 2017, is designed to automate the admission process, eliminate manipulation, and ensure transparency and fairness.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring integrity in tertiary education admissions, noting that while institutions hold the power to initiate admission decisions through their academic boards, JAMB remains the statutory body responsible for regulating and approving all admissions.

He called on vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, and governing council members to exercise stronger oversight and ensure full compliance with CAPS. Alausa also emphasized that the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with JAMB, would intensify monitoring of all admission activities.

He further reiterated the compulsory integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) in the JAMB registration process, stating that it had significantly reduced identity fraud and multiple registrations. “Any abuse of the NIN system will be identified and punished,” he warned.

Presenting new data, the minister highlighted a persistent mismatch between available admission slots and actual student intake, especially in agriculture, education, engineering, and health-related programs.

“We have capacity, but we are not admitting enough students. We must begin to close the gap so that more children can access tertiary education,” he said.

Alausa also criticized the proliferation of underutilized institutions, revealing that over 120 universities received fewer than 50 applications in the current admission cycle. “We don’t need a new tertiary institution in every ward. What we need is to strengthen and expand the ones we already have,” he said.

Senator Shuaib Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, echoed the concerns and called for stricter penalties against fraudulent admissions. He proposed criminalising such practices and urged institutions to stop exploiting gaps in the system that result in students pursuing invalid degrees.

Salisu also stressed the importance of building an inclusive education system that promotes peace and supports national development.