Polytechnic graduates and students across Nigeria, under the banner of Concerned Higher National Diploma (HND) Graduates/Students, have voiced their frustration and strong opposition to their exclusion from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilization for the compulsory one-year national service.
The affected graduates told SaharaReporters that they were aware that polytechnic graduates who completed their National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) on a part-time basis are not eligible for the one-year national service.
However, they expressed their distress, stating, “The recently introduced policy, which disqualifies graduates who completed their National Diploma (ND) on a part-time basis and then proceeded to full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) programs from participating in the NYSC scheme, has left us stranded and devastated.
“Many of us graduated as far back as February 9, 2024, and despite meeting all the requirements for service, including obtaining JAMB regularization, we have been denied the opportunity to serve our nation.”
They informed SaharaReporters that the affected graduates across the country are those who completed their ND on a part-time basis but pursued their HND on a full-time basis.
They said, “We only did our ND on a part-time basis, but our HND was full-time. We have also completed our JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board) regularization.
“There is no reason why we should not be mobilized for NYSC, but we have been tossed back and forth, with responsibility for our mobilization shifting between the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), NYSC, and the Federal Ministry of Education.”
The affected graduates stated that they had written to the NBTE, which, in turn, wrote to the Director-General of the NYSC in a letter dated January 8, 2024, requesting that the graduates be mobilized for service.
The NBTE, in the letter signed by its Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris M. Bugaje, explained that the reason for the non-mobilization of polytechnic graduates for national service is specifically based on ND status, not full-time HND programs.
The NBTE boss directed the NYSC Director-General to immediately mobilize the affected graduates for service, regardless of their ND status.
The letter, sighted by SaharaReporters, read, “With reference to a phone call by the Director of Mobilization at the NYSC, I wish to request a review. I am ready to make a courtesy visit to explain.
“There have been developments since our last letter dated September 10, 2024:
“The basis for NYSC mobilization is the HND, not the ND. Therefore, the use of JAMB data on ND admission for NYSC mobilization is inappropriate.
“All full-time HND graduates are recommended for mobilization, regardless of their ND status. The NBTE, as a regulatory body, has approved part-time ND graduates to be admitted into full-time HND programs.
“The House Committee on Polytechnics and other stakeholders have called for an early resolution of the matter, and I am meeting with the Committee today.
“Kindly approve the mobilization of all full-time HND graduates from NBTE-accredited programs.
“Exclusion is not a fair instrument for any full-time graduate. This will eventually prevent legal action from NAPS (National Association of Polytechnic Students), who are currently protesting across campuses.”
Despite these appeals, the graduates lamented that all efforts to resolve the matter had been exhausted, including direct meetings with the NYSC Director-General, who told them the scheme needed approval from the Federal Ministry of Education.
They said, “We have written multiple petitions and made personal appeals to the Director-General of NYSC, both at the Lagos office and the headquarters in Abuja.
“Despite our efforts, the NYSC has refused to reverse the policy or provide a satisfactory explanation.
“The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has issued letters to the NYSC recommending that affected graduates be mobilized based on their HND qualifications. Unfortunately, the NYSC has ignored this directive, further compounding our frustrations.
“We have submitted petitions to key government officials, including the Minister of Education, the Minister of Youth Development, and several legislative committees. However, no meaningful action has been taken to resolve this issue.
“On January 6, 2025, we organized a peaceful protest at the NYSC Lagos State office in Surulere, highlighting the emotional, financial, and mental toll this policy has had on us. Despite this demonstration and widespread media coverage, the issue remains unresolved.”
“This unjust policy has caused severe emotional and psychological distress.
“Many of us left stable jobs and endured significant hardships, including poor living conditions during our studies, to complete our HND programs in hopes of serving our country.
“The prolonged period of uncertainty has left us idle, frustrated, and hopeless,” the aggrieved student said.
They stressed that the policy marginalizes polytechnic graduates, particularly those who pursued ND through part-time programs, despite fulfilling all requirements for HND.
They also lamented that the delay and uncertainty caused by the policy have led to significant mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and loss of self-esteem among affected graduates.
They noted that by creating a disparity between university and polytechnic graduates, the policy undermines the unity and inclusivity envisioned in the National Youth Policy and the NYSC Act (1973), which aims to foster national integration.
They said, “Many of us left jobs and other opportunities to pursue full-time HND programs, believing that it would qualify us for NYSC. The sudden policy change has rendered our efforts futile.”
They emphasized that the policy was never communicated to students at the commencement of their HND programs.
They said, “Many of us graduated as early as February 2024, fully expecting to be mobilized for national service based on our HND qualifications.
“However, this sudden policy now deems us ineligible, effectively invalidating the sacrifices, time, and resources we invested in pursuing higher education.”
According to them, the NYSC policy is discriminatory and violates the principles of equality enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
They quoted Section 42(1), which “prohibits discrimination against any Nigerian citizen based on circumstances of birth, sex, religion, or educational background” and Section 18(1) which “mandates the government to promote equal access to education and ensure that education policies do not arbitrarily disadvantage any group”.
“By disqualifying graduates based on the mode of their ND study (part-time), despite completing a full-time HND program, this policy contradicts the aforementioned constitutional provisions,” they said.
They appealed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and the National Assembly to intervene and ensure the immediate reversal of the policy and their mobilization.
They urged the National Assembly to direct the NYSC to mobilize affected polytechnic graduates with Batch A, Stream 1, 2025, in line with their HND qualifications.