A ray of hope has emerged for Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates as the Federal Government takes steps to address the ongoing issue of their alleged exemption from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
The controversy, which primarily affects HND holders who completed their National Diploma (ND) through part-time programmes, has sparked widespread protests and concerns about fairness in the NYSC mobilization process.
The NYSC scheme is a mandatory national service for Nigerian graduates, designed to promote national unity and foster development.
In principle, every Nigerian graduate is expected to participate in the service, although some are exempted based on certain criteria, such as age or health conditions.
However, recent developments have drawn attention to the situation of some HND graduates who have been left out of the mobilization process due to the nature of their studies.
The controversy surrounding the exclusion of HND graduates from the NYSC scheme primarily affects those who completed their ND via part-time studies.
These graduates, who obtained their National Diplomas through non-full-time education modes, have found themselves ineligible for NYSC mobilisation, a decision that has raised a number of questions concerning fairness.
Many of these graduates feel they are being unfairly treated, particularly because their academic credentials are equivalent to those of full-time students.
In some cases, individuals who have already completed their ND through part-time studies and subsequently pursued their HND through full-time courses find themselves caught in the middle of this exclusionary policy.
Despite their status as full-time students in their HND programmes, their earlier part-time ND studies are preventing them from being included in the NYSC mobilisation process.
This exclusion has sparked widespread protests across various parts of Nigeria.
Graduates, students, and advocacy groups have voiced their frustration over the perceived injustice, seeking clarification and immediate intervention from the government to address the issue.
Placards with messages like “No to discrimination,” “Give us our rights,” and “Reverse the injustice” were recently displayed during protests in different states. These protests were an indication of the deep dissatisfaction felt by those affected by the policy.
In January 2025, a series of protests took place across Nigeria, notably in Kwara State, where polytechnic students marched to express their anger at the policy.
They demanded the reversal of the exclusion and sought a fairer process that would include all graduates, regardless of the mode through which they completed their ND.
In Lagos, a similar scene unfolded as full-time HND graduates, who had completed their ND part-time, gathered outside the NYSC secretariat to protest their exclusion.
Their placards carried messages such as “Say No to Discrimination in NYSC” and “Equal Rights for All,” urging the government to ensure that their rights to serve were recognised and upheld.
The protests have not been limited to students and graduates; various advocacy groups and individuals have expressed their support for the cause, highlighting the negative consequences this exclusion could have on the career prospects of affected graduates.
Many argue that it is unfair to penalise students who completed part-time ND programmes when their HND is obtained through the same rigorous academic standards as full-time students.
The Nigerian government, particularly the Ministry of Education, has now taken steps to address the concerns raised by affected HND graduates.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, expressed his commitment to resolving the issue after receiving numerous messages and letters from concerned students and graduates.
He assured the public that the government was aware of the injustice and was working on a solution.
Alausa took to his official Twitter account to share his plans for addressing the matter.
He stated, “I have received numerous messages and letters from part-time ND and HND students, and those who transitioned to full-time courses about their exemption from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).”
He further emphasised that both the Federal Ministry of Education and the Presidency were aligned in their support for the affected graduates.
He confirmed that a meeting with the Director-General of the NYSC would take place in March 2025 to discuss the matter in detail and come up with a solution that would address the grievances of the graduates.
In his statement, Alausa expressed his unwavering support for the affected students, saying, “As I told the students at Yaba Tech today, the Federal Ministry of Education and our agencies stand with you.
“The Presidency stands with you as well. You should not be exempted from participating in NYSC.”
His words were seen as a sign of hope for many who had been waiting for the government to take action.
The forthcoming discussions between the Ministry of Education and the NYSC are expected to yield positive results for the affected graduates.
A resolution of this issue would restore the rights of HND graduates who feel they have been unjustly excluded from the NYSC scheme.
The hope is that this process will lead to the formulation of a fairer and more inclusive mobilisation policy that takes into account the academic standing of all graduates, regardless of whether they completed their ND through part-time or full-time studies.
A favorable resolution is expected to address concerns of discrimination and ensure that all graduates are treated equally under the NYSC scheme.
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