Graduates of the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State, are voicing growing frustration over persistent delays in the transmission of their names to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by the institution’s management. The Nigeria Education News team was live at the permanent site of the Polytechnic, where two stranded graduates expressed dismay over the situation, citing what they described as “lack of clarity and communication” from school authorities.
Basirat and Bukola, who both graduated in 2024, shared their ordeal with our correspondents. According to them, they have fulfilled all academic and administrative requirements needed for NYSC mobilisation. “We submitted our final clearance, paid all dues, and even submitted our data when they called for it, yet they keep saying ‘wait for your time,’” Bukola lamented. “We are just tired,” she added.
The disappointment is heightened by the fact that some of their classmates have already been mobilised and are currently at various NYSC orientation camps across the country. “We have been seeing photos from camp. These are people we graduated with,” Basirat said. “It is painful that while others are already serving the nation, we are left behind with no explanation.”
While at the scene, The Nigeria Education News observed the two graduates appealing to one of the student affairs officers for assistance. Visibly distressed, they pleaded for an urgent resolution. The officer, however, asked them to remain calm and assured them that the matter was receiving attention. “You people should chill, the school is working on it,” he said in response to their pleas.
When pressed by our correspondents to explain the root cause of the delay, the officer was unable to provide specific reasons. “I don’t have the full explanation,” he admitted. “It is between the school management and the NYSC. I believe the issue has been addressed and their names will be uploaded soon.”
Several other graduates from the 2024 set reportedly face the same situation, and some of them have already missed earlier NYSC batches. For them, time is of the essence, especially considering the age limitations imposed by NYSC guidelines, which bar individuals over 30 years from participating in the service.
The affected students say the lack of communication from school authorities has only added to their anxiety. “They don’t email us, they don’t post official updates. We just rely on rumours and informal word-of-mouth from other students,” one graduate said anonymously. This information vacuum has left many uncertain about when—or if—their turn will come.
Parents of the affected graduates have also begun to voice their concerns, calling on the institution to treat the issue with greater urgency. “We struggled to sponsor our children through school. Now they are done, but they are stuck because the school won’t forward their names. This is not fair,” a parent stated in a phone conversation with The Nigeria Education News.
The delay has also disrupted plans for those seeking employment, postgraduate studies, or international opportunities, as NYSC certificates are often required. “It’s like we’re in limbo,” Bukola added. “We cannot move forward with our lives because of this delay.”
Efforts to reach senior officials in the Polytechnic’s Student Affairs Division and Registrar’s Office were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. However, sources within the school hinted that internal bureaucratic challenges and discrepancies in data processing may have contributed to the delay in forwarding names to NYSC.
