Polytechnic graduates with part-time National Diploma backgrounds have staged a protest on Monday at the Lagos NYSC secretariat, decrying a proposed policy barring them from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
This protest comes as the registration for the second stream of Batch C mobilisation began on Monday, January 6.
The demonstrators, holding placards with messages such as “Say No to Discrimination in NYSC” and “Equal Rights for All,” called for an immediate reversal of the policy.
Majaro Temitope, an HND graduate from Yaba College of Technology, described the policy as discriminatory, noting it unfairly penalises those who switched from part-time National Diploma (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. He urged the NYSC Director-General and the Minister of Education to intervene.
The protesters claimed to have written to relevant authorities, including the NYSC and JAMB, without receiving a response.
Adebola Osunfunrewa, from the Education Rights Campaign, criticised the proposed exclusion, calling it a setback for Nigeria’s educational system.
“How can over 3,000 graduates eager to serve be denied in a country facing teacher shortages?” he queried.
Responding to the protest, the Lagos NYSC Coordinator, Christiana Salwang, represented by Assistant Director Ehimuenma Itohan, assured the graduates 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 stated, urging protesters to remain calm.
The outcome of the deliberations remains awaited as the mobilisation process continues.
