Ending Discrimination Against HND Part-time Graduates by Niyi Aborisade

The history of polytechnic in Nigeria can be traced back to 1947 when Yaba College of Technology ( YabaTech) was established. It actually evolved from  Yaba Higher College. The aims were to provide practical and technical skills. It was introduced to meet the needs for skilled technical and vocational manpower in Nigeria. We now have Federal Polytechnic, State and Private Polytechnic.

There are two stages of award. The first two years was for  National Diploma (OND) and the second stage is for the Higher National Diploma( HND).

Anyone who complete HND full – time study  are eligible to  Perform the mandatory National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC) irrespective of whether they finished in Federal, State or Private. It  It is also part of the requirement that there must be a minimum of one- year gap between ND and HND to be eligible for the. NYSC.

However, Part -time HND or those who did their ND part-time but even completed the HND full-time are still ineligible and they will receive NYSC exclusion certificate. The reason for this discrimination is not known yet.

NYSC itself was established by Decree in 1973 by General Yakubu Gowon. Section 315(5) of the 1999 constitution ensure that the National Youth Service Corps Decree is still valid and operational.   In other words, it has been incorporated into the constitution. This aspect of the constitution was enacted to ensure continuity so that there would be no legal vacuum and to uphold immportant federal enactments.

The NYSC Act ( Cap N84, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 formalises the establisment of the NYSC for graduates under 30 years old. The aims are to promote common ties, national unity, and youth development through disciplined service, patriotic service and self-reliance. It made provisions to those who are eligible and those who are not, including those who should be given exemptions. Section 13 (2) criminalises failuire to report for service, with punishment, including fines or imprisonment and makes wearing the uniform  illegally an offense. The Act   gives the president authority to make necessary regulations for the scheme’s objectives.

The reason for not allowing a part – time HND or those whondid their ND part -time  may have been in that 2004 Act unwittingly because no explanation was given for this exclusion.

I see such law that bar part-time HND graduates under 30 as discriminatory.  Any law that bar part- time HND graduates whether because of their historic ND part-time  is morally unjust and a morally unjust law does not have a status of law.

I entrear  the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to exercise his power under the NYSC Act to correct the anomaly by removing any exclusion that prevent the HND part -time graduates  from being eligible for NYSC. They should be made eligible.

The law must be fair, just and equitable.