FG Outlaws University Admissions Outside CAPS; Warns of Severe Sanctions for Institutions

The Federal Government has formally declared all tertiary admissions conducted outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) as illegal, warning institutions that violations will attract severe regulatory sanctions.

Speaking at the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, reiterated that any admission not processed through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) platform would no longer be recognized.

All admissions into Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education must be routed through CAPS to ensure transparency and merit.

The government has ended the "Condonment of Undisclosed Institutional Illegal Admissions" (CUIIA). There will be no further regularization for candidates admitted outside the system.

Defaulting institutions risk the withdrawal of their operational assets, while principal officers and governing council members found culpable may face prosecution.

The Minister reaffirmed that the minimum admission age for tertiary institutions remains 16 years, describing the policy as non-negotiable.

In a new development, candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education are now exempted from writing the UTME, provided they have five relevant credit passes and register through JAMB for CAPS verification.

The government cautioned candidates against accepting "backdoor" offers, noting that such admissions jeopardize their future as they will be ineligible for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and other professional recognitions.