Protest: HND Graduates Stands Against Policy To Exclude Them From NYSC 

Full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates who previously completed part-time National Diploma (ND) programmes have staged a protest against their proposed exclusion from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The protest coincided with the commencement of registration for the second stream of Batch C mobilisation on Monday, January 6.

Gathering at the NYSC secretariat in Lagos State, the graduates held placards with messages such as “Say No To Discrimination in NYSC” and “Equal Rights for All,” demanding their inclusion in the scheme.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Majaro Temitope, an HND graduate of Yaba College of Technology, criticised the proposed policy, describing it as unjust and discriminatory.

“Many of us here did ND part-time and later switched to full-time HND. We were not told there is a policy that will deny us the opportunity to serve, despite the struggles we faced during our ND years,” he said.

The graduates called on the NYSC management to reconsider the policy, citing the efforts they made to transition from part-time to full-time studies and their right to equal opportunities in national service.

Temitope revealed that letters had been sent to the relevant authorities seeking intervention, but no response had been received.

He urged the Director-General of the NYSC and the Minister of Education to take action.

“We have already written to the Director-General and JAMB regarding this issue. We hope the Federal Government and the Ministry of Education will review this unfair policy, especially now that registration has begun, and we are still unable to register,” he said.

Adebola Osunfunrewa, a representative of the Education Rights Campaign, condemned the policy, describing it as a symptom of the declining state of Nigeria’s education system.

“This policy highlights the collapse of Nigeria’s education system. How can over 3,000 students be pleading for the opportunity to serve in a country that desperately needs teachers?” he questioned.

In response to the protesters, Lagos NYSC Coordinator, represented by Assistant Director Ehimuenma Itohan, reassured the graduates that their grievances had been communicated to the NYSC Director-General at the national headquarters.

“Your concerns have been noted and forwarded to the highest level of NYSC management. The Director-General is committed to addressing the concerns of the youth, and I assure you that this issue is being taken seriously and will be reviewed in accordance with existing policies,” Itohan said, urging them to remain calm.