The decision of the Federal Government to exclude part-time Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilisation has sparked widespread outrage.
According to a statement by Boriowo Folasade, spokesperson of the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, on Thursday, said only full-time HND graduates will be eligible for the NYSC programme.
This decision has been met with fierce criticism from affected graduates, who expressed displeasure on social media.
Background
In August 2024, the NYSC rejected polytechnic graduates without Industrial Training (IT) certification from participating at the orientation exercise.
According to the policy introduced at the time, HND graduates must provide evidence of completing their one-year mandatory IT certificate before being registered in their respective camps.
While registration went smoothly with corps members who had all the requirements, others who were rejected lamented that they had already completed their degrees and were ready to serve the country, only to find themselves excluded due to certification.
In January, some full-time HND graduates who previously completed part-time National Diploma programmes voiced strong opposition to their exclusion from the scheme. They described NYSC policy as discriminatory, emphasising that many of them had worked hard to transition from part-time ND programmes to full-time HND programmes.
Full-time HND graduates now eligible – Minister
Announcing the resolution of the long-standing issue regarding the mobilisation of HND graduates in a statement, Mr Alausa, on Thursday, said only full-time HND graduates will be mobilised for NYSC.
“To facilitate a seamless mobilisation process, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to expedite the collation of data for eligible HND graduates. In line with this, a circular has been sent to all Rectors of Polytechnics, instructing them to upload the necessary graduate data onto the newly created HND admission portal,” part of the statement read.
The minister emphasised that NYSC mobilisation is strictly for those who completed a full-time HND programme. He added that the newly created portal will ensure proper documentation of the graduates and serve as the official database for mobilisation.
Controversy
The exclusion of part-time HND graduates from the NYSC programme has raised concerns about the impact on their employment prospects. Many organisations in Nigeria require NYSC certification as a prerequisite for employment, which could put these graduates at a disadvantage.
Fatai Hanifah, an accountancy graduate of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, argued that the exclusion of part-time students from NYSC means the service scheme would no longer fully solve the unemployment problems faced in the country.
“In my opinion, the exclusion is unfair on the part-time students. They are also students and graduates like the full timers,” she said. “I will recommend the policy regarding the exclusion be reviewed.”
Remilekun Komolafe, a graduate of Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH) said: “many of us who did part-time did so as a result of necessity to raise money for our studies. We should be allowed to also serve our father’s land.”
Ibrahim Gafar, a corps member in Osun State, added that the exclusion of part-time HND graduates from NYSC is unjust and discriminatory.
“This exclusion may also limit their job prospects and create unequal opportunities in the labour market. Part-time HND graduates bring unique perspectives and experiences, enriching the NYSC programme. They possess specialised skills and knowledge, which can contribute to the development of their host communities. Authorities should review the policy to include part-time HND graduates,” he said.
