The proposed exclusion of full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates from the National Youth Service Corps scheme has triggered massive protests in Lagos as registration for the second stream of Batch C mobilisation commenced on Monday, January 6.
The students were reacting to claims that Higher National Diploma graduates who previously completed part-time National Diploma programmes would be excluded from observing the compulsory one-year service.
The affected graduates converged at the NYSC secretariat in Lagos on Monday morning, raising placards with messages like ‘Say No To Discrimination in NYSC’ and ‘Equal Rights for All,’ calling for their inclusion in the NYSC mobilisation process.
Most of the graduates expressed concerns over the proposed exclusion, and described the policy as discriminatory, emphasising that many of them had worked hard to transition from part-time part-time diploma programmes to full-time.
Towards this end, a letter has been written to the Director-General and JAMB about this matter, while calling on the Federal Government and Ministry of Education to review the policy
Responding to the protesters, the Lagos NYSC Coordinator, represented by Assistant Director, Ehimuenma Itohan, assured the graduates that their concerns had been forwarded to the Director-General at the national headquarters. Itohan urged them to remain calm and assured them that the matter was being taken seriously.
“Your protest has been duly noted, and we have escalated your grievance to the highest level of management in NYSC. The Director-General is a father figure who deeply cares about the concerns of the youth, and I assure you that he will consider all aspects of the matter in line with the existing guidelines and policies,” Itohan said.
It remains to be seen how the Federal government intends to resolve the issue and ensure affected graduates join the Batch C mobilization registration before the deadline date.
