The Federal Government has ruled that any admission conducted outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) is illegal, warning tertiary institutions that violations will attract sanctions.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made the declaration on Monday at the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions in Abuja.
He said all admissions must be processed through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board CAPS platform, stressing that parallel admission systems would no longer be recognised.
“Admissions conducted outside this framework are illegal and will not be recognised,” he said.
The minister warned that institutions that bypass CAPS risk penalties, including regulatory actions that could affect their operating licences.
“Heads of institutions… must recognise that such violations could result in severe consequences,” he added.
The government retained 16 years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions, noting that exceptions would be subject to strict guidelines.
Alausa also called for greater transparency, urging institutions to publish enrolment figures and other operational data.
He said reforms such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the expansion of digital systems were aimed at improving access and accountability in the education sector.
The minister urged stakeholders to comply with established guidelines, noting that enforcement would be sustained to ensure credibility in the admissions process.
Credit: ThePunch
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