The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has recently implemented a stringent policy affecting graduates from polytechnics and monotechnics holding Higher National Diploma (HND) degrees. As the orientation camps across Nigeria opened for Batch B Stream II, several HND graduates were turned away due to the absence of a mandatory Industrial Training (IT) certification.
According to the new directive, HND graduates must present proof of having completed a one-year Industrial Training (IT) program as a prerequisite for registration at the orientation camps. This policy applies to all HND holders mobilized for the NYSC program, with the aim of ensuring that all graduates have met the complete requirements of their academic programs before embarking on the mandatory national service.
This development marks a significant shift in the NYSC’s approach, reflecting a heightened emphasis on the comprehensive preparation of graduates. The absence of the required IT certification now results in immediate disqualification from the orientation process, which has led to several HND graduates being turned back from the camps.
The policy has stirred reactions among affected graduates and stakeholders in the education sector, with many expressing concerns over the abrupt implementation and its impact on those who were not previously informed or adequately prepared. Some graduates have called for leniency or a grace period to allow those without the certification to complete the necessary training and subsequently join the service.
However, the NYSC has stood firm on its decision, emphasizing that the policy is in line with efforts to uphold the standards of the national service program and ensure that only fully qualified candidates are allowed to participate. This move underscores the NYSC’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the program, which serves as a crucial phase in the transition from academic life to professional careers for Nigerian graduates.
