The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has accused corps-producing institutions in Nigeria and outside the country of manipulating data to allow part-time graduates enrol for service.
The organisation restated its determination to prevent unqualified graduates from being enlisted for national service.
At a meeting of the corps management with the registrars of corps producing institutions in Nigeria yesterday in Abuja, NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed (rtd.) said that management would deal decisively with any institution or individual found culpable in such an act.
He said: “The continuous decline of quality of graduates, which has largely been attributed to factors, such as harvest of graduates from unaccredited institutions, manipulation of data to allow part-time graduates enrol for service and other unwholesome practices, leaves much to be desired from the citadels of learning.
“Management is determined not to take it lightly with institutions or individuals perpetrating these acts intermittently”.
The Chairman of NYSC National Governing Board, Fatima Abubakar, who was represented by a member of the board, Major General Bayode Adetoro enjoined participants at the meeting to critically assess all the steps taken in the course of mobilisation and fashion out a formidable template that would guarantee an unassailable process.
The Director of Corps Mobilisation Department, Isa Siddique urged the registrars to step up their game in the admission of qualified students and their progression till graduation.
“Supervision of the mobilisation of your graduates for National Service in accordance with laid down rules and procedures equally falls under your purview”, he added.
The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Olusade Adesola, who declared the meeting open, acknowledged the giant strides the corps had recorded in the nation’s capital.
He said this was attributable to the selfless services of corps members deployed to serve within the territory.
Adesola promised that the FCT Administration would deepen its partnership with the NYSC to ensure the successful implementation of the scheme’s objectives.
