The National Universities Commission (NUC) says it will review the exclusion of graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) from mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, disclosed this in Abuja while responding to concerns raised over what has been described as unequal treatment of NOUN graduates.
The issue was brought to the fore by the Chancellor of NOUN, the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, who called for policy adjustments to allow eligible graduates of the institution to participate in the compulsory national service.
Addressing the concerns, Ribadu assured that the Commission would engage the leadership of the National Youth Service Corps to reassess the existing mobilisation framework and consider necessary policy changes.
“I have heard the concerns of the Chancellor in his speech about the lack of mobilisation of NOUN graduates for the National Youth Service Corps,” he said.
“I want to assure you, at NUC, we will engage with NYSC to see what policy changes can be made in order for NOUN graduates to be accommodated, because the dynamics have changed,” he added.
He explained that the original policy excluding NOUN graduates was based on the assumption that most of its students were working adults above the age limit for national service.
However, Ribadu noted that recent trends show a growing number of younger students enrolling in the institution, many of whom fall within the eligible age bracket for NYSC participation.
“Unlike in the past, where graduates of NOUN are 30 years and above; in recent times, you have graduates of younger age, less than 30, who are likely to participate in the NYSC based on age,” he said.
The NUC stated that it would work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that evolving realities in the education sector are reflected in national policy decisions affecting graduates.
