As the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp opened yesterday across the country, Polytechnic graduates with Higher National Diplomas (HND) who lacked Industrial Training (IT) certification were sent home.
NYSC has implemented a new policy requiring IT certification for those seeking to fulfill their national service obligations, which has temporarily delayed the screening process for some HND graduates.
The NYSC announced that HND graduates must provide proof of completing their mandatory one-year Industrial Training (IT) before they can register at their respective camps.
This policy stipulates that graduates of polytechnics and monotechnics mobilized for Batch B Stream II must show evidence of their completed one-year Industrial Training (IT) to participate in the orientation camp.
Those who were turned away due to the absence of an IT certificate expressed their frustration, noting that they had completed their degrees and were ready to serve the country, only to be excluded because of a certification gap.
They hoped for a resolution that would allow them to fulfill their service obligations without penalties for unforeseen documentation issues.
One corps member, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that the timing of this requirement felt unfair, as many of their peers were already serving without facing the same hurdles.
“They are asking for the IT certificate; once you present it along with other documents, they let you proceed with registration. This requirement has caused frustration among many corps members. You can see some of them are visibly upset,” she said.
A nursing mother, Mrs. Hauwa Collins, who arrived early to register, shared her experience, saying that the process was straightforward as long as one had all the required documents.
“I arrived at the camp before 10 a.m. When the screening began, I was asked to present my IT certificate, age declaration, and other documents. They verified everything quickly, and I have received my kits and am nearly finished with the registration.
“However, some of our colleagues are feeling frustrated. I spoke with one woman who traveled from Kaduna and was upset because she was screened out,” she added.
As of the time of this report, corps members continued to arrive at the camp, leaving the fate of those rejected uncertain.
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