By Enoh Blessing.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced that only graduates with a valid compliance certificate from the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) will henceforth be mobilized for national service.
The move is part of efforts by the NYSC to eliminate certificate fraud and ensure that only genuine graduates participate in the mandatory national service programme.
In a statement issued by Caroline Embu,Director, Information and Public Relations stressed that,
Speaking at the workshop themed “Strengthening Institutional Accountability and Compliance in the NYSC Mobilization Process for Effective Service Delivery,” the NYSC boss stressed the importance of transparency and credibility in the mobilization process.
General Nafiu urged all Corps Producing Institutions (CPIs) to properly educate their students on the new directive and ensure full compliance with the NERD certification requirement before mobilization.
He emphasized that the responsibility for a credible mobilization process should not rest solely on the NYSC, but should involve collaboration among regulatory agencies, security institutions, and relevant government ministries.
According to him, stronger cooperation among stakeholders would make the transition from school to national service smoother, more transparent, and more efficient for Prospective Corps Members (PCMs).Also speaking at the workshop, NYSC Director of Corps Mobilization, Rachel Ideawor, described the gathering as an important platform for strengthening collaboration between the NYSC and Corps Producing Institutions.
Mrs. Ideawor charged Student Affairs Officers to handle their responsibilities with diligence and integrity by ensuring that accurate information about prospective corps members is submitted during mobilization.
The workshop attracted key stakeholders including representatives from Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, National Universities Commission, National Board for Technical Education, the Federal Ministry of Education, NERD, SIDMACH Technologies, and 266 Student Affairs Officers from institutions across the country.
