Education minister intervenes in NYSC exclusion of polytechnic graduates

By Isah Aliyu Chiroma

The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, has assured polytechnic graduates excluded from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilization that he has approved a memo for their mobilization.

This development comes after the graduates, who completed their National Diploma (ND) on a part-time basis and proceeded to full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) programs, were disqualified from participating in the NYSC scheme.

During his visit to the Yaba College of Technology on friday in Lagos State, Dr. Alausa confirmed that he has approved a memo to the NYSC Director-General for the mobilization of the affected graduates. He also scheduled a meeting with the NYSC DG to resolve the issue within two weeks.

The minister’s intervention follows a protest by the affected graduates, who expressed their frustration and rejection of the NYSC’s decision. The graduates had written to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), which in turn wrote to the NYSC Director-General, requesting that the graduates be mobilized for service.

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Dr. Alausa emphasized that there is no reason why the affected graduates should be disenfranchised from participating in the NYSC program. He also appealed to the graduates to be patriotic citizens and desist from posting negative narratives about Nigeria on social media.

The affected graduates had also appealed to the National Assembly to intervene and ensure their mobilization. With the minister’s intervention, it is expected that the issue will be resolved soon, allowing the affected graduates to participate in the NYSC program.