The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, has approved the long-awaited mobilization of polytechnic graduates who were previously excluded from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) due to their part-time National Diploma (ND) studies.
This approval follows months of advocacy led by the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) and other stakeholders, marking a significant victory for equity and fairness in Nigeria’s education system.
During a recent visit to Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Dr. Alausa reassured affected students of his commitment to resolving the issue.
He confirmed: “I have approved a memo to the NYSC Director-General to facilitate the immediate mobilization of these students.”
He further revealed that he has summoned the NYSC DG for a crucial meeting in the next two weeks to finalize the implementation process.
This decision addresses a long-standing policy that denied NYSC participation to students who completed their ND through part-time programmes before transitioning to full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) studies. The exclusion had been a source of frustration, prompting repeated calls for reform.
NAPS has hailed this development as a “victory for equity, justice, and fairness” in Nigeria’s education sector. In a statement, the association expressed deep appreciation for the Minister’s swift intervention, stating: “His dedication to inclusivity and fairness has rekindled hope among polytechnic students, reaffirming the government’s commitment to equitable educational policies.”
The association also commended the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and other stakeholders for their support in pushing for the resolution. NAPS has urged affected students to remain patient while closely monitoring the implementation process. The association also called on the NYSC Directorate to act swiftly in compliance with the minister’s directive, ensuring that eligible graduates are mobilized with Batch A, Stream 1, 2025.
