HND Graduates Protest NYSC Exclusion Policy

A group of Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates with part-time National Diploma (ND) backgrounds staged a peaceful protest on Monday at the Lagos National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) secretariat, condemning a proposed policy that could exclude them from participating in the NYSC scheme.

Carrying placards with messages such as “Say No to Discrimination in NYSC” and “Equal Rights for All,” the protesters demanded an immediate reversal of the policy as the Batch C Stream II registration commenced.

Majaro Temitope, an HND graduate from Yaba College of Technology, described the policy as discriminatory and unfair to those who transitioned from part-time ND programmes to full-time HND studies.

“Many of us struggled through our ND on part-time, only to face exclusion now. We hope our peaceful protest sparks a dialogue,” Temitope said, urging the NYSC Director-General and the Minister of Education to intervene.

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The demonstrators said they had written to relevant authorities, including the NYSC and JAMB, but had yet to receive a response.

Adebola Osunfunrewa, a representative of the Education Rights Campaign, called the proposed exclusion a setback for Nigeria’s educational system.

“How can over 3,000 graduates eager to serve be denied in a country facing teacher shortages?” Osunfunrewa questioned, urging authorities to reconsider the policy.

In response, Lagos NYSC Coordinator Christiana Salwang, represented by Assistant Director Ehimuenma Itohan, assured the protesters that their concerns had been forwarded to the NYSC Director-General.

“The director general is reviewing the matter and is committed to addressing your grievances within policy guidelines,” Itohan said, urging the protesters to remain calm.

As the mobilisation process continues, the affected graduates await a decision on their eligibility to serve.