NYSC Mobilisation Delay: Thousands of Nigerian Polytechnic Graduates Yet to Receive Call-Up

Thousands of Higher National Diploma graduates from polytechnics across Nigeria are currently stranded as they wait months, and in some cases years, to be mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps.

Many of the affected graduates attribute the delay to administrative challenges within their institutions as well as the limited mobilisation slots allocated by the NYSC each year.

Investigations show that the prolonged wait has left numerous graduates unable to secure employment or progress in their careers, as many organisations in Nigeria require proof of NYSC completion before offering full-time jobs.

While some graduates initially believed the issue was linked to their admission records processed through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, the board has clarified that it does not handle admissions into HND programmes. This clarification has shifted attention to institutional documentation processes and the NYSC mobilisation structure.

Many graduates say the experience has become increasingly frustrating, as they face mounting economic pressure and uncertainty about their future.

A graduate of Kaduna State Polytechnic who identified himself simply as Usman said he completed his programme two years ago but has yet to be mobilised despite submitting all required documents.

According to him, repeated requests from the institution for document resubmission have not led to any progress.

He explained that he had submitted his regularisation printout multiple times but was repeatedly told that the document could not be found in the system. The situation, he said, has become embarrassing as people constantly ask about his NYSC status.

Another graduate from the same institution, Zainab Asmau, described the situation as emotionally and financially draining. She said some graduates have waited for more than three years without mobilisation.

She noted that the delay has cost many graduates valuable job opportunities because employers often require an NYSC certificate before offering employment.

Another graduate, Abubakar, said the delay has forced many to watch their younger siblings and peers progress ahead of them in their careers.

He explained that some graduates who gained admission earlier now find themselves waiting while their younger relatives have already completed their studies, served in the NYSC programme and moved on to employment.

However, an official from Kaduna State Polytechnic explained that the situation is partly due to the limited mobilisation slots allocated to institutions by the NYSC each year.

The official noted that polytechnics with large student populations cannot mobilise all graduates at once because the scheme assigns a specific number of slots per institution.

A Kaduna-based media personality, Omachi Philip, also criticised the situation in a video shared on social media. He questioned why many graduates from the institution remain unable to participate in the national service programme years after completing their studies.

According to him, the delay has raised concerns among parents who are beginning to question whether their children actually graduated from school.

Graduates from other polytechnics across the country are experiencing similar challenges.

Idayat Folorunso, a graduate of Quantity Surveying from Kwara State Polytechnic, said she completed her HND programme in July last year but is still waiting to be mobilised.

She said that even graduates who finished before her had to wait close to a year before their names appeared on the mobilisation list.

A graduate from the Administration Department of The Polytechnic Ibadan, Ibrahim Koleoso, also said many students from the institution have waited several months without mobilisation.

He explained that some graduates have remained at home for up to eight months, while others cannot even begin NYSC registration because their academic results have not yet been released.

The situation has left many graduates unable to apply for jobs or begin their professional careers.

A former Students’ Union Government President of Adamawa State Polytechnic, Saheed Muhammed, criticised the NYSC management, alleging that polytechnic graduates are often sidelined during mobilisation exercises.

According to him, some institutions also run HND programmes without meeting required academic standards, which can later create problems during mobilisation.

In Kano State, some graduates from Kano State Polytechnic also blamed the NYSC for the delay.

One graduate who completed his programme in July 2025 said he has spent more than eight months waiting for mobilisation.

He added that two of his friends who graduated from Bayero University Kano in March 2025 are also yet to be mobilised.

Another graduate, Sani, said the issue appears to be a national challenge affecting many institutions across the country.

He called on the Federal Government to introduce reforms that would eliminate the bottlenecks affecting the mobilisation process.

However, the Head of Public Affairs at Kano State Polytechnic, Auwal Bagwai, attributed the delay to documentation challenges involving the NYSC and JAMB systems.

He explained that some graduates were rejected during the upload process because their JAMB registration numbers were either unrecognised or invalid.

According to him, affected graduates were advised to reprint their JAMB slips and re-upload them to correct the discrepancies, but some failed to complete the process.

Bagwai also confirmed that polytechnics across the country have already submitted complaints to the NYSC headquarters regarding the issue.

In Sokoto State, several graduates from The Polytechnic Sokoto also expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in mobilisation.

One of the affected graduates, Ibrahim Yusuf, said he has been unable to secure stable employment because many employers require either an NYSC discharge certificate or an exemption certificate.

He explained that despite graduating about eight months ago, his name has not appeared on the NYSC mobilisation portal.

Another graduate simply identified as Mohammed said the delay has created serious financial pressure for many graduates who expected to complete the national service programme and begin their careers.

Graduates of Edo State Polytechnic are also affected by the mobilisation delay.

The institution’s Public Relations Officer, John Eson, explained that partial accreditation of some academic programmes has contributed to the problem.

According to him, the institution is currently working with the National Board for Technical Education to resolve accreditation issues affecting some departments.

Education data indicates that universities and polytechnics across Nigeria produce approximately 600,000 graduates every year, while the National Youth Service Corps mobilises between 240,000 and 350,000 corps members annually.

This gap has created a significant backlog of graduates awaiting mobilisation, with estimates suggesting that more than 500,000 graduates are currently affected.

Analysts say the backlog worsened after the Federal Government increased the monthly allowance for corps members from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000, which may have reduced the number of graduates mobilised per batch due to financial constraints.

Education experts warn that the delay is contributing to rising youth unemployment because many graduates cannot secure jobs that require proof of national service.

They also note that the rapid expansion of tertiary institutions across Nigeria is placing additional pressure on the NYSC mobilisation system.

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Is-haq Oloyede, clarified that the board is not responsible for HND admissions or NYSC mobilisation.

According to him, JAMB only facilitates admissions into National Diploma, university degree and Nigeria Certificate in Education programmes.

He advised affected graduates to direct their complaints to the institutions responsible for their programmes.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Idris Bugaje, said some institutions contribute to the delay by failing to comply with academic procedures.

He explained that students who proceed to HND programmes without completing the mandatory one-year Industrial Training after their National Diploma may not be eligible for NYSC mobilisation.

He also emphasised that institutions must properly upload student records on the NBTE HND admission portal for verification.

According to him, graduates from programmes without full accreditation may also face mobilisation challenges.

He advised institutions experiencing delays to formally communicate with the relevant regulatory bodies to resolve the issue.

An NYSC official also stated that mobilisation depends largely on the successful upload of graduate records by the NBTE.

He explained that once the board uploads the student data to the portal, eligible graduates can proceed with NYSC registration. If the details are not uploaded, students cannot register for mobilisation.

Experts warn that unless the mobilisation capacity of the NYSC is expanded, the backlog of graduates waiting for national service will continue to grow, further delaying career opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians.