JAMB Admissions Extension: New Deadline and Drivers of Public University Delays
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially extended the deadline for concluding 2025 admissions into public universities to November 17, 2025. This decision, announced by JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, is a direct response to “emergent and compelling circumstances” affecting the smooth operation of the admissions calendar.
The initial deadline of October 31, 2025, set by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, was intended to stabilize the academic calendar and ensure other tertiary institutions (private universities, polytechnics, etc.) could finalize their processes by December 31, 2025. The extension for public universities, however, became necessary to ensure fairness and inclusiveness for all candidates and institutions.
Two Key Reasons Behind the Deadline Extension
JAMB clarified that the need for an extension was anchored on two major, distinct considerations:
1. Legal and Judicial Disruptions
The primary reason cited was an appeal from the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU). The admissions process faced disruption due to a court order that had temporarily mandated a “status quo” on the 2025/26 admissions list.
The order, which paused the finalization of the lists, was only officially lifted on October 28, 2025. This limited time window made it practically impossible for institutions to complete the rigorous screening and admission processes before the initial October 31 deadline. The extension provides the necessary breathing room to overcome this judicial roadblock.
2. Expansion of Academic Programs
The second compelling reason is tied to the government’s agenda to expand educational access.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) recently approved a significant list of 229 new academic programs across 37 public universities on October 29, 2025.
Admission slots into these newly accredited programs must now be scheduled and processed, a task that requires additional time beyond the original cut-off date. This aligns with the broader “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which aims to expand access to quality tertiary education for Nigerian youth.
Implications for Students and Institutions
The new deadline of November 17, 2025, is non-negotiable, and JAMB has stressed that it must be strictly adhered to by all public universities.
For Candidates: Students are advised to monitor the admission lists and post-UTME updates from their respective universities closely, particularly those who applied to institutions with recently accredited programs, as those admission schedules are now being created.
For Universities: Public universities conducting post-UTME examinations are under strict directives to complete all outstanding processes quickly. The new deadline is a final push to stabilize the academic year, uphold the transparency of the admissions process, and strengthen public confidence in the national tertiary admissions framework.
This extension, while delaying the final calendar, ultimately accommodates necessary legal and academic expansions, ensuring more students gain equitable access to university education in Nigeria.
Do you have any questions about the post-UTME process or the distinction between the Minister’s deadline and the overall December 31 closing date?
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