Graduates Left Waiting as Mobilisation Delays Persist
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has blamed several polytechnics and tertiary institutions for delays in mobilising graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
For months, and sometimes years, many Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates have remained stranded. As a result, frustration has continued to grow among affected students nationwide.
Initially, many graduates blamed administrative bottlenecks within their institutions. In addition, they pointed to limited mobilisation quotas as a major cause. However, the NBTE has now offered a different explanation.
According to the board, most delays stem from institutional failures. Specifically, it cited non-compliance with academic procedures and poor documentation of student records.
NBTE: Institutions Ignoring Mandatory Industrial Training
The Executive Secretary of the NBTE, Idris Bugaje, spoke through the board’s NYSC Desk Officer, Dauda Baba-Halal. He highlighted a key issue affecting mobilisation.
He explained that some institutions fail to enforce the required one-year Industrial Training after the National Diploma (ND). Consequently, this disrupts the proper academic sequence.
More importantly, some schools admit students directly into HND programmes immediately after ND. This practice, according to the NBTE, creates verification problems.
“This policy has existed for a long time, but unfortunately, some institutions violate it by admitting their students into HND without allowing them to complete the mandatory one-year Industrial Training,” Bugaje said.
Furthermore, he stressed that skipping this training has serious consequences. In such cases, affected graduates become ineligible for NYSC mobilisation.
He explained that if a student proceeds to HND without completing the mandatory one-year Industrial Training, the NYSC will not mobilise that student because the academic progression is incomplete.
Verification Process Tightened Through HND Portal
To address these issues, the NBTE has strengthened its verification system. Notably, it now relies heavily on its HND admission portal.
According to Bugaje, the portal serves as a national database for HND admissions. Therefore, institutions must upload student records for proper verification.
This process ensures that students followed the correct academic pathway. It also helps the board confirm that admission procedures were properly observed. As a result, only qualified candidates are cleared for mobilisation.
Clarification on Roles: JAMB Not Responsible for NYSC Mobilisation
Bugaje also clarified the role of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). He noted that JAMB is only responsible for ND admissions. Therefore, it has no involvement in NYSC mobilisation processes.
In addition, he advised institutions facing challenges to take proactive steps. Specifically, they should formally communicate with either the NBTE or NYSC. This approach, he said, would help resolve issues faster and more efficiently.
Accreditation Remains Key Requirement
Finally, the NBTE reaffirmed its regulatory role. It emphasised that only graduates from accredited programmes are eligible for mobilisation.
“Only graduates from programmes accredited by the NBTE are eligible to be considered for mobilisation into the NYSC scheme,” he said.
In conclusion, while graduates continue to face delays, the NBTE insists that compliance is the solution. Therefore, institutions must follow established procedures to avoid further setbacks.