Full Statement: Students Urge Education Minister, NANS, NAPS, NYSC to End Discrimination Against Part-Time Graduates

By: Israel Adeleke

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that a former Students’ Union President of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Comrade Olubodun Abiodun Johnson, has appealed to the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to urgently address what he described as “prolonged injustice” against part-time graduates who have been denied mobilisation for national service.

OTN News further reports that Johnson, in an open letter released to newsmen, called on the Honourable Minister of Education, JAMB Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede, and NYSC management to take immediate action to end the discriminatory policy that bars National Diploma (ND) part-time and Higher National Diploma (HND) full-time graduates from participating in the NYSC scheme.

According to him, thousands of affected students across Nigerian polytechnics have been trapped in uncertainty for more than two years, unable to serve their fatherland despite meeting all academic requirements. 

He lamented that the issue has caused “immense suffering, disappointment, and stagnation” for young Nigerians eager to contribute to national development.

“The silence surrounding this issue has deepened our pain and disappointment. We have waited in vain, and our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Our parents have sacrificed so much for our education, yet we are denied the opportunity to serve our country,” Johnson stated.

He criticised the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Oloyede, accusing him of resisting efforts by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and NYSC to allow the remobilisation and inclusion of affected part-time graduates.

“Prof. Oloyede, you have failed Nigerian students, particularly part-time students. Your refusal to align with the NBTE and NYSC resolutions is unjust and unacceptable. We demand immediate action to free all part-time students from this NYSC limbo,” he declared.

The statement also urged NANS, NAPS, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Affairs to intervene and ensure that all eligible part-time graduates are given fair access to the NYSC mobilisation process.

Johnson vowed that the affected students would continue to advocate until justice is served. “We will not back down until our demands are met. We are not asking for favours; we are demanding our rights. Every Nigerian student deserves equal opportunity to serve their nation,” he concluded.

OTN News observes that, the letter, signed on behalf of part-time graduates from the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti and other institutions nationwide, has reignited debate over NYSC’s mobilisation policy and the lingering question of equal treatment for all qualified graduates, irrespective of their mode of study.

Read the full statement below:

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.