The Nigerian Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, has directed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to mobilize polytechnic graduates who were initially excluded from the mandatory national service due to their part-time study status. This directive came after a series of protests and public outcry from affected students and graduates.
The decision was announced following a visit by the Education Minister to the Yaba College of Technology in Lagos, where he met with students and staff. Dr. Alausa assured the graduates that a memo for their immediate mobilization had been approved and sent to the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed.
This directive primarily targets graduates who completed their National Diploma (ND) on a part-time basis but then pursued their Higher National Diploma (HND) full-time, thus finding themselves ineligible for NYSC mobilization under the previous policy. The exclusion had caused widespread frustration among these students, leading to legal threats and public demonstrations.
Dr. Alausa emphasized the importance of inclusivity in national service, stating, “There is no reason you must not be allowed to serve your country. We are here to ensure every Nigerian youth has an equal opportunity to contribute to nation-building.” He also urged the youth to refrain from posting negative narratives about Nigeria on social media, promoting a more constructive dialogue about the nation’s future.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) had previously written to the NYSC requesting the mobilization of these graduates, highlighting that the reason for their non-inclusion was based on their ND part-time status, not their full-time HND programs. This letter from NBTE, dated January 8, 2024, underscored the urgency and necessity of revising the NYSC policy to reflect fairness and equity.
The policy change has been welcomed by student bodies, including the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) and the Concerned Higher National Diploma (HND) Graduates/Students group, who have been at the forefront of advocating for this change. They hail this as a victory for all polytechnic graduates and a step towards rectifying what they described as discriminatory practices against students from polytechnics.
The exact timeline for when these graduates will be mobilized remains unclear, but assurances have been given that the issue will be addressed shortly. The NYSC has yet to issue an official statement on how they will implement this directive, but there is anticipation that this could be part of the upcoming Batch A, Stream 1, 2025 mobilization.
This policy shift by the Education Minister is seen as a pivotal moment in addressing the disparities between university and polytechnic graduates in Nigeria, aiming to foster unity and equal opportunity in national service.
