The Federal Government has given the go – ahead to the National Youth Service Corps to mobilise full time Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates for tnational service.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who broke the news, confirmed that only full-time HND graduates are eligible and can proceed with their mobilisation.
The government urged the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to expedite the collation of data for eligible HND graduates, adding that a circular has been sent to all Rectors of Polytechnics, instructing them to upload the necessary graduate data onto the newly created HND admission portal to facilitate the mobilisation process.
Before, HND graduates who did part – time to obtain their National Diploma were not eligible to serve because they didn’t have the requirements to be mobilised for national service.
This was further compounded by the decision of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to stop regularisation of illegal admissions, making it difficult for them to obtain admission letters which would have qualified them for service.
A statement by Director, Press & Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade on Thursday in Abuja, said: “The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, is pleased to announce the resolution of the long-standing issue regarding the mobilisation of Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Following a dialogue with the Director-General of NYSC, the Minister confirmed that only full-time HND graduates are eligible and can now proceed with their mobilisation.
“This development marks a significant breakthrough for full-time HND graduates who were previously excluded from the NYSC program. It underscores the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to equity, fairness, and inclusivity in the nation’s education system. However, those who did HND part-time are not eligible for mobilization at all.
“To facilitate a seamless mobilization process, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to expedite the collation of data for eligible HND graduates. In line with this, a circular has been sent to all Rectors of Polytechnics, instructing them to upload the necessary graduate data onto the newly created HND admission portal.
“Dr. Alausa emphasised that NYSC mobilisation is strictly for those who completed a full-time HND program, stressing that only full-time HND graduates will be mobilised, while those who did HND part-time remain ineligible. He further disclosed that the newly created portal will ensure proper documentation of full-time HND graduates and serve as the official database for NYSC mobilisation, addressing past challenges related to admission records.
“The Honourable Minister urges all eligible full-time HND graduates to take full advantage of this opportunity and proceed with their mobilisation without delay. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering equal opportunities for all qualified Nigerian graduates and ensuring their contributions to national development through the NYSC scheme.”