The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced that polytechnic graduates or holders of Higher National Diplomas (HND) without proof of completing the mandatory 12-month industrial training (IT) will not be registered at NYSC orientation camps for national youth service.
The NYSC’s Acting Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Caroline Lembu, clarified in an interview on Thursday that an industrial training certificate is now a requirement for polytechnic graduates to participate in the one-year national youth service.
This follows the recent introduction of a policy by the NYSC mandating polytechnic and monotechnic graduates to present an IT certificate as part of the prerequisites for national service, particularly for participation in camp activities.
The NYSC Coordinator in Lagos State, Mrs. Yetunde Baderinwa, previously disclosed the details during an interview on August 3, 2024 stating “corp members must undergo the one-year IT with evidence of completion before going for HND, and institutions must confirm this before admitting them for HND.”
“The directive will take effect from the next orientation camp, and we will not register any candidate who did not complete or undergo the process,”
NYSC spokesperson, Lembu, confirmed that the implementation of the new policy has already commenced.
“That is part of the requirement for obtaining an HND Certificate, isn’t it? So, it’s just that certificate. That is one of the documents they are required to present at the camp. They would get admission into the camp, but whether they would be registered or not is the issue. You know, everyone is admitted to the camp, and your documents are scrutinised. But what happens is that that is the requirement.”
Lembu emphasized that polytechnic students are required to complete the 12-month industrial training as a precondition for obtaining their HND certificate.
“It is a prerequisite for earning the HND certificate. The certificate they are asking for is part of the standard requirements. They are not being rejected; they just need to present it,” she explained.
However, investigations revealed that HND holders without IT certificates were being turned away from NYSC orientation camps nationwide.
In Osun State, the NYSC Public Relations Officer, Funmi Okundaye, confirmed that the policy was being enforced.
“They were not evicted from camp. It is not an issue in the Osun camp alone. It is a national policy to sanitise the education sector. We sent those who don’t have IT letters back home to bring it. It is part of the registration materials they must bring to camp.
“Once they bring their IT letters from where they observed it, they will be allowed to return to the camp.”
A similar situation was observed in Niger State, where the NYSC spokesperson, Sam Oga, confirmed that polytechnic graduates without IT certificates were not being registered.
“Yes, we are implementing it. The NYSC HND candidates are not allowed into the camp without proof of IT. Until we get a counter directive they will not be allowed into the the camp,” Oga said.
The policy was also enforced in Kano State, where an NYSC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated,
“This is a directive from the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, and we are simply adhering to the order.”
