What was once a beacon of national unity has now become a source of frustration – Students cries out over NYSC discrimination among Part-time graduates

What was once a beacon of national unity has now become a source of frustration – Students cries out over NYSC discrimination among Part-time graduates

What was once a beacon of national unity has now become a source of frustration – Students cries out over NYSC discrimination among Part-time graduates
In recent years, thousands of Nigerian students who completed ND Part-Time and HND Full-Time programmes across various polytechnics have found themselves trapped in a state of uncertainty denied mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) despite fulfilling all academic and institutional requirements. What was once a beacon of national unity and youth empowerment has now become a source of frustration and despair for these young Nigerians.

In open letter released to Newsmen to serves as a call to conscience and action directed to the Honourable Minister of Education, the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) under Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and the NYSC management to address this prolonged injustice.

For over two years, affected graduates have waited in vain, their dreams of serving their fatherland hanging in limbo. The silence surrounding this issue have only deepened the pain and disappointment of students who have sacrificed so much to complete their education.

Full Statement Reads:

A CALL TO ACTION FOR JUSTICE: FREE NIGERIA ( ND PART-TIME – HND FULL-TIME STUDENTS ) FROM NYSC LIMBO.

To the Honourable Minister of Education, NAPS National, NANS National, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and NYSC Management,

As a concerned graduate and former Students’ Union President of Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti, I am compelled to express the outrage and disappointment of thousands of part-time students who have been denied the right to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme since 2023. This draconian policy has caused immense suffering, disappointment, and blockages of progress for affected individuals. We are appalled by the blatant disregard for our rights and the lack of progress in resolving this issue.

We have waited for over two years, and our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Our parents have struggled to sponsor us, and we want to serve our country just like our mates. It is a pain in our hearts that this issue has caused so much disappointment and hardship. The recent memo from NBTE and NYSC allowing for remobilisation and mobilisation of affected students is a clear indication that the system can work and by that ND PART-TIME and HND FULL-TIME can participate in NYSC, but it has been hindered by JAMB resistance.

Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, you have failed the Nigerian students, particularly part-time students. Your refusal to remobilise and mobilise all part-time students to participate in the NYSC programme is unjust and unacceptable. We demand that you take immediate action to resolve this issue. It will never take anything from you to do what is right. We urge you to align with the resolutions from NBTE and NYSC and allow part-time students to go for a service year.

We call on NAPS National, NANS National, the Minister of Education, and the SSA Students Affairs to the President to intervene in this matter. We will no longer be silenced or ignored. We demand justice, equality, and the right to serve our country. Our country has failed us, and our mothers and fathers are hurt. We want to join our mates in serving our fatherland.

The struggle for our rights will not be in vain. We will continue to speak out until justice is served. Prof. Oloyede, you must go if you cannot align with the resolutions that will benefit the part-time students. We demand that you free all part-time students from this NYSC limbo. We want to serve our country with dignity and pride.

As a former Students’ Union President of Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti, I am proud to stand with my fellow ND PART-TIME students. We will not back down until our demands are met. We urge all stakeholders to join us in this fight for justice. We are not asking for favours, we are demanding our rights.

In conclusion, we reiterate our demands, Prof. Oloyede must remobilise and mobilise all ND PART-TIME students for NYSC. We want to serve our country, and we will not be denied. We await your immediate action.

Signed,
*Comr Olubodun Abiodun Johnson,*
*Former Students’ Union President, Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti*
*On behalf of all affected part-time students of Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti and other institutions in Nigeria.*