The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has uncovered a shocking case where a bread seller was mistakenly mobilized as a graduate for the one-year mandatory national service. The incident, which occurred at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), was part of a broader issue involving the illegal mobilization of unqualified individuals.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Yusha’u Ahmed, disclosed the alarming situation during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday. He revealed that the scheme had identified and demobilized 54 graduates from UNICAL who had been illegally included in the NYSC program.
“Previously, a bread seller was mobilized on the graduation list from the same institution,” Ahmed stated. “There are bad eggs in many places that generate matriculation numbers and courses for their candidates.”
The NYSC’s swift action to demobilize the unqualified individuals is part of its efforts to uphold the integrity of the national service program. Ahmed emphasized that out of the 54 illegal graduates, 19 had already registered online for mobilization. However, they were stopped from proceeding with the service, and four others had their certificates withheld.
The NYSC chief commended the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar for bringing the issue to the attention of the NYSC.
“The Vice-Chancellor came here to report that she observed some names appeared on the institution’s list that ought not to have been there. She checked the list the school gave us, and I told her that their certificates would be invalidated,” he said.
Ahmed also emphasized the importance of integrity in the data submission process by universities.
“Any failure in the mobilization process from any school falls on the integrity of the management of such an institution. Those who are responsible for imputing the data of graduates should be people of integrity,” he stated.
In response to the discovery, the NYSC has pledged to strengthen its collaboration with Heads of Corps Producing Institutions and other relevant stakeholders to prevent future occurrences. Ahmed called on all employers in the country to verify the authenticity of National Service Certificates presented by job applicants.
The situation at UNICAL has brought attention to broader concerns about the integrity of the mobilization process. Earlier in the week, the NYSC had invalidated the certificates of 101 illegally mobilized graduates from UNICAL who participated in the scheme between 2021 and 2023.
Following the invalidation, the Pro-Chancellor of the University, DIG Udom Ekpoudom (retd.), praised the NYSC for its efforts in exposing fake graduates. He pledged that the university would take action against any staff involved in the illegal mobilization.