(Corp members. Photo Credit: News Express)
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has directed that Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates seeking registration for national service must present evidence of completing the mandatory one-year Industrial Training (IT) after their National Diploma (ND) programme before they can be registered at orientation camps.
According to a circular signed by the Director of Corps Mobilisation, Isa Walida Siddique, on behalf of the Director-General of the NYSC, the scheme disclosed that it had observed some graduates of polytechnics and monotechnics proceeding to HND programmes without completing the compulsory one-year Industrial Training.
It stated that the new requirement was aimed at preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s educational system, and announced that affected prospective corps members would be required to present proof of completing the training before registration at orientation camps.
The circular noted that it had been observed in recent times that some graduates of polytechnics and monotechnics do not undergo the mandatory one-year Industrial Training before being admitted into HND programmes.
The NYSC said the directive would apply to all prospective corps members holding HND qualifications, warning that failure to provide evidence of the mandatory Industrial Training would affect their registration at orientation camps.
It stated that HND graduates seeking to serve would be required to present evidence of completing the one-year Industrial Training before being registered at NYSC orientation camps.
The circular, addressed to Rectors and Provosts of Polytechnics and Monotechnics through their Registrars, urged institutions to immediately sensitise students on the new requirement in order to prevent avoidable setbacks during mobilisation.
It requested that the information be given wide publicity among students to prevent a situation where they would be denied registration at orientation camp.
The directive was contained in a circular dated July 15, 2026, referenced NYSC/DHQ/CM/M/347/T.74, with institutions directed to ensure prospective HND graduates are adequately informed before reporting for national service.