HND Graduates Protest Exclusion From NYSC, Demand Equal Rights

Ikeja, Lagos State– Full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates, who had previously completed part-time National Diploma (ND) programs, have launched a protest against the proposed exclusion of such graduates from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The protest unfolded as the registration for the second stream of Batch C mobilisation commenced on Monday, January 6.

The affected graduates gathered at the NYSC secretariat in Lagos early Monday morning, holding placards with slogans such as “Say No To Discrimination in NYSC” and “Equal Rights for All.”

The demonstrators are calling for their inclusion in the NYSC mobilisation process.

Majaro Temitope, a graduate of Yaba College of Technology, spoke on behalf of the protesters, expressing strong objections to the proposed policy.

Temitope highlighted that many graduates had transitioned from part-time ND programs to full-time HND programs with significant effort, and they had not been made aware of the policy that would potentially bar them from participating in the scheme.

“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,” Temitope said.

The protesters are demanding that the NYSC reconsider the exclusion policy, arguing that all graduates, regardless of their educational pathway, should have equal access to the scheme.

Temitope explained that letters had been sent to relevant authorities seeking intervention, but there had been no response so far.

He appealed to the Director-General of the NYSC and the Minister of Education to address the situation.

“We’ve already written to the Director-General and JAMB about this matter. We just hope the Federal Government and Ministry of Education will review this unfair policy, especially since the registration has already started, and we haven’t been able to register,” he said.

Adebola Osunfunrewa, a representative of the Education Rights Campaign, criticised the policy, describing it as a symptom of the decline in Nigeria’s education system.

“This policy is yet another indication that Nigeria’s education system is on the verge of collapse. How can over 3,000 students be pleading to serve in a country grappling with a severe shortage of teachers?” he asked.

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

“We have noted your protest and escalated your grievances to the highest level of NYSC management. The Director-General is a father figure who genuinely cares about the concerns of the youth. I assure you that he will carefully review the matter in line with existing policies and guidelines,” Itohan said.