The Federal Government has cautioned tertiary institutions against bypassing the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), declaring that any admission conducted outside the platform will be deemed invalid.
Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, gave the warning on Monday at the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Abuja. He stressed that the government would no longer tolerate parallel admission systems, which he said undermine fairness and transparency.
“Let me reiterate, without equivocation, that admissions conducted outside this framework are illegal and will not be recognised,” Alausa said.
He noted that such practices have, over time, disadvantaged qualified candidates and weakened confidence in the admission process.
“The era in which institutions operated parallel admission systems, often to the detriment of deserving candidates, must come to an end,” he added.
The minister warned that institutions found violating the directive would face strict sanctions, including possible regulatory action.
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“I have resisted many attempts at condoning illegality in the admissions process. I will not be a party to such actions.
“Any institution found to have conducted admissions outside the CAPS will be held accountable, and appropriate sanctions shall be applied without hesitation,” he stated.
He also made it clear that both public and private institutions are subject to the same rules.
“Heads of institutions, whether in the public or private sector, must recognise that such violations could result in severe consequences, including the suspension of operating licences or other regulatory actions, where applicable,” Alausa warned.
Alausa concluded by urging stakeholders to prioritise implementation, noting that policies must translate into real outcomes.
“For too long, our sector has been characterised by well-articulated policies that fail to translate into tangible outcomes,” he said.
“The decisions we take here will have far-reaching implications for millions of young Nigerians,” he added.