By Ayo Kehinde
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into Nigerian universities for the 2026 academic session.
The decision was reached on Monday during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions held in Abuja, with the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, heads of tertiary institutions and other education stakeholders in attendance.
According to JAMB, the approved minimum admissible scores for the next academic session are 150 for universities, 100 for polytechnics and 150 for Colleges of Nursing Sciences.
“The minimum admissible scores for admissions for the next academic session have been fixed at 150 for universities, 100 for polytechnics, and 150 for colleges of nursing sciences by the stakeholders (Heads of Tertiary Institutions),” the examination body stated.
The announcement came alongside a major policy shift by the Federal Government exempting candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes and selected agriculture-related courses from sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Alausa disclosed that candidates applying for NCE programmes in Federal Colleges of Education would no longer be required to write the UTME, provided they possess the necessary O’Level qualifications.
According to the minister, applicants with a minimum of four credit passes in relevant subjects can now gain admission into NCE programmes without participating in the examination.
“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,” he stated.
The minister, however, clarified that the exemption does not eliminate the requirement for candidates to register with JAMB for documentation and admission processing.
“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,” Alausa added.
The policy also extends to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses in polytechnics and other tertiary institutions.
According to the minister, the reforms are designed to ease the pressure associated with the UTME while maintaining the integrity of the nation’s admission system.
“This approach strikes a necessary balance between widening access and preserving the integrity of our admission system.
“ It will not only ease the pressure associated with UTME but also encourage greater participation in teacher education and agricultural programmes, both of which are critical to national development,” he said.
