NYSC Hope Rises for HND Graduates with ND Part-Time Background as Polytechnics Begin Compliance

In a major relief for thousands of Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates, the Federal Government in March 2025 approved the inclusion of HND full-time graduates with National Diploma (ND) part-time backgrounds in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. However, months after the announcement, several affected graduates are still unable to register for mobilization, with many complaining that their NYSC portal still displays an “Exclusion Letter” or fails to list their names on the Senate-approved list.

Despite these setbacks, new updates from reliable sources reveal that most polytechnics across the country have now complied with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)’s directive to upload data of affected graduates for seamless NYSC mobilization. Notable institutions such as Federal Polytechnic Offa and Kwara State Polytechnic have reportedly completed the data upload process.

Affected graduates are advised to remain calm as the NBTE will transmit the submitted data to NYSC. This process may take time due to the high volume of graduates across multiple polytechnics who fall into this category. It’s important to note that this directive applies to all institutions running ND part-time programs—not just a select few.

For Those Seeing “Exclusion Letter” on Their Portal:

Graduates who currently see an “Exclusion Letter” on their NYSC portal are urged to take proactive steps. First, contact your school’s student affairs unit or NYSC desk officer to confirm your eligibility status. According to POLYTV, while hope remains for affected graduates, it may take a while before updates reflect on the portal. In the meantime, graduates are encouraged to either wait patiently or, if necessary, download their exclusion letter and move on.

“There is still hope,” a source stated, “but the process requires patience and consistent follow-up with your institution.”

Clarification for Current HND II Students and Recent Graduates:

Questions have also arisen about the eligibility of current HND II students preparing to sign out, especially those who hold ND part-time certificates. According to the Federal Government’s directive, all HND full-time graduates are now eligible for NYSC, provided they meet the age requirement (under 30 years old at the time of graduation).

Therefore, current HND II students and those who graduated in 2025 should expect to be mobilized—provided their institutions upload their data promptly. Students are advised to liaise with their Students’ Union Government (SUG) representatives to ensure the school management acts swiftly in submitting data to NBTE.

A Timeline of Events:

• March 2025: FG clears HND full-time graduates with ND part-time backgrounds for NYSC.
• May–June 2025: Most polytechnics begin uploading affected students’ data to NBTE.
• July 2025: Reports confirm that some affected graduates have already been successfully mobilized.

Final Word to Affected Graduates:

If you’re still stuck in the NYSC registration process due to your ND part-time background, here are a few key actions to take:

1. Contact your school to confirm if your data has been forwarded to NBTE.
2. Follow up regularly with your school’s NYSC desk or Student Affairs Division.
3. If issued an Exclusion Letter, contact your institution to clarify your status—then decide whether to wait or move on.

Mobilization is happening, but it may not be instant for everyone. The backlog from several polytechnics and the time required for NBTE to process and forward names to NYSC mean that patience and communication with your institution are important.

For now, there is genuine progress—and for many, NYSC mobilization is no longer a dead end, but a delayed beginning.