NYSC Enforces New Policy: Polytechnic Graduates Without IT Certificates Denied Registration

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has implemented a strict new policy requiring polytechnic graduates and Higher National Diploma (HND) holders to provide evidence of completing the mandatory 12-month industrial training (IT) before being registered at the NYSC orientation camps. This policy, aimed at ensuring that graduates have the necessary practical experience, has led to many being turned away from camps across Nigeria.

Mrs. Caroline Lembu, the acting Director of Press and Public Relations for NYSC, confirmed the enforcement of the policy during a conversation with The PUNCH on Thursday. She explained that the IT certificate is now a crucial requirement for polytechnic graduates wishing to participate in the one-year national service.

"The certificate of industrial training is one of the documents they are required to present at the camp," Lembu said. "They would get admission into the camp, but whether they would be registered or not is the issue. This requirement ensures that only those who have completed their IT, a prerequisite for obtaining the HND certificate, are eligible for registration."

This policy was first disclosed by Mrs. Yetunde Baderinwa, the NYSC Coordinator in Lagos State, on August 3, 2024. She stated that the directive would take effect from the next orientation camp, emphasizing that no candidate without proof of IT completion would be registered.

Reports from various states, including Osun, Niger, and Kano, confirm that the policy is being strictly enforced. In Osun State, NYSC Public Relations Officer Funmi Okundaye clarified that those without IT certificates were sent home to retrieve the necessary documentation. "Once they bring their IT letters from where they observed it, they will be allowed to return to the camp," she said.

Similarly, in Niger State, the NYSC spokesman, Sam Oga, affirmed that HND holders without IT proof were not being registered, and this directive would remain in force until countermanded. An anonymous NYSC official in Kano also confirmed compliance with the order, stating, "This is a directive from the NYSC headquarters in Abuja. So, we are just complying with the order."

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has expressed its support for the NYSC's policy. Mr. Shammah Kpanja, the National President of ASUP, emphasized the importance of the industrial attachment as an integral part of the National Diploma programme and a prerequisite for advancing to the HND. He noted that some students attempt to bypass this requirement, depriving themselves of essential practical experience.

"The one-year industrial attachment is not just a formality; it’s a mandatory part of the training, and the skills gained during this period are expected to be demonstrated during the HND programme," Kpanja stated. He added that the policy followed communication from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to NYSC, underscoring the compulsory nature of the IT as a key criterion for HND admission and subsequent NYSC mobilization.

As the policy continues to be enforced, it serves as a significant move towards sanitizing the education sector and ensuring that polytechnic graduates are adequately prepared for the workforce.