Graduates of full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) programs who completed part-time National Diploma (ND) courses have voiced their concerns over the potential exclusion from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. This comes as the registration for the second stream of Batch C mobilization begins on Monday.
On Monday morning, a group of graduates gathered at the NYSC secretariat in Lagos, holding placards with messages like “Say No to Discrimination in NYSC” and “Equal Rights for All,” calling for their inclusion in the mobilization process.
Majaro Temitope, a graduate of Yaba College of Technology, spoke on behalf of the protesters. He expressed concern over the NYSC policy that may exclude them from service, labeling it as discriminatory. “Many of us here completed our ND part-time and then transitioned to HND full-time. We were informed that those of us who did ND part-time might be denied service, despite the struggles we faced during our ND studies,” he said.
Temitope also shared that the affected graduates had written letters to the relevant authorities but had yet to receive a response. He urged the Director-General of NYSC and the Minister of Education to address the issue. “We’ve written to the DG and JAMB, and we kindly ask the federal government and the Ministry of Education to look into this matter. It’s unfair to judge my eligibility for service based on my ND alone. The registration process has already begun, and we still haven’t been able to register,” he added.
Adebola Osunfunrewa, a representative from the Education Rights Campaign, criticized the exclusion, calling it a setback for the country’s education system. “This reflects the ongoing collapse of Nigeria’s education system. Over 3,000 students are asking to serve their country, yet we are facing a shortage of teachers,” he said.
Christiana Salwang, the Lagos Coordinator of NYSC, represented by Assistant Director Ehimuenma Itohan, assured the graduates that their grievances had been forwarded to the NYSC Director-General at the national headquarters. “Your protest is duly noted, and we’ve escalated your concerns to the highest level within the NYSC. We ask that you remain calm as the matter is being reviewed. The Director-General is a father figure, and he is concerned about your issues. Rest assured, any decision made will be in line with established policies,” Itohan stated.
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