bilms:
OPEN UNIVERSITY: BARRED FROM SERVING THE NATION
Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

Let me begin by asking a question, is it right to bar some citizens from serving the nation without the basis of law? I think not, but as it stands, graduates of the first of its kind National Open University of Nigeria has been officially barred or excluded from serving our father land. This should be a source of concern to all meaning Nigerians. After the end of the Civil War, the leadership of the country thought of a way to re-unite the country in an effort to bridge the fracture caused by the civil war, and after much deliberation, the National Youth Service Corp was given birth to. According to SECTION 1 of the NYSC decree, it states that, there is hereby established a scheme to be known as the National Youth Service corps (in this Decree referred to as "the Service Corps". The decree states that, the objectives of the service corps shall be: • to inculcate discipline in Nigerian youths by instilling in them a tradition of industry at work, and of patriotic and loyal service to Nigeria in any situation they may find themselves • to raise the moral tone of the Nigerian youths by giving them the opportunity to learn about higher ideals of national achievements, social and cultural improvement • to develop in the Nigerian youths the attitudes of mind, acquired through shared experience and suitable training, which will make them more amenable to mobilization in the national interest • to enable Nigerian youths acquire the spirit of self reliance by encouraging them to develop skills for self employment • to contribute to the accelerated growth of the national economy • to develop common ties among the Nigerian youths and promote national unity and integration • to remove prejudices, eliminate ignorance-and confirm at first hand the many similarities among Nigerians of all ethnic groups • to develop a sense of corporate existence and common destiny of the people of Nigeria In order to achieve the objectives in this decree, the service corps shall ensure: o that the Nigerian youths are exposed to the modes of living of the people in different parts of Nigeria o that the Nigerian youths are encouraged to eschew religious intolerance by accommodating religious differences. The above are the reason for the establishment of NYSC. However, it was a surprise that today, the same NYSC which was founded to bridge divide has now resorted to discrimination without basis. This is against the principle of the scheme. Going through the NYSC decree, those qualified to participate in scheme were well spelt out. SECTION 2 of the decree states that: Subject to the provisions of this Decree, every Nigerian shall: • if, at the end of the academic year 1972-73 or, as the case may be, at the end of any subsequent academic year, he shall have graduated at any university in Nigeria ( ANY UNIVERSITY IN NIGERIA) Since this law has not been changed or the decree amended, it is a gross offense and flagrant disobedience of the laws of our land to exclude Open University graduates from the NYSC. Here we can see that, nothing in this decree indicate that students from Open University are not qualified, it only informed us of the purpose of this scheme which is to build capacity of the Nigerian youths and imbibe the culture of national service, tolerance and accommodation in them. However, rather than admit graduates of Open University into the NYSC scheme to serve their fatherland, the National Youth Service Corps governing council without any basis, continue to exclude the first of its kind institution. They designate Open university as excluded, and the graduates are given what they call, exclusion certificate to indicate that they have been officially excluded from serving our nation. This is a grave injustice. Let me note that, this exclusion certificate was alien to the NYSC Act. What the act recognize is exemption certificate, but only some categories of people are qualified for the exemption. Exemption certificate is different from Exclusion certificate. According to amended NYSC act: Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this act, with effect from 1st August, 1985, a person shall not be called upon to serve in the service corps if; at the date of his graduation or obtaining his diploma or other professional qualification - • He is over the age of thirty. • He has served in the armed forces of the Federation or the Nigeria Police Force for a period of more than nine months. • He has been conferred with any National Honour. • He is member of staff of any of the following, that is: i. the Nigerian Security Organisation ii. the State Security Service iii. the National Intelligence Agency iv. the Defence Intelligence Service As we can see in the above, these are the only categories of people that are qualified for NYSC exemption certificate, nothing like exclusion certificate was ever mentioned in the NYSC act, but because the governing council of the NYSC are bent on denying our institution equal rights of participation for reasons best known to them, they introduced what they call exclusion, which they dumped on the faces of distinguish NOUN graduates. It is quite disappointing that, after 4 years of academic grinding, plus hard work in an institution with no equal, where you have obtained the best of knowledge under a properly guided system devoid of any form of examination Mal-practices, what you get is discrimination from some government establishments. It is important to note that, Open University is a federal university, accredited by the same National University Commission which accredited other institutions in the country. For no reason should her graduate be sidelined,as this would discourage prospective students from enrolling in the institution,thus defeating the purpose for which it was created.

We have seen all over the world that graduates of Open Universities are accorded front seat roll, they are seen as people who deserve first class treatment. Nigeria shouldn’t ignorantly relegate this noble institution and its distinguish graduates, they cannot be relegated. Many students from this university feel pained when they see other graduates in the youth corps uniform moving about their places of assignment. They wish that one day, it would be them in those uniforms, holding their head high in service to their fatherland, but this dream seems to be under threat, as graduates after graduates, the discrimination yet continues. I therefore call on those in authority to desist from this discrimination, failure of which the students would be forced to drag the NYSC to court for legal redress. Finally, we are aware that the president have the power to resolve this issues without further delay, as the NYSC act states that, the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces may, by Order published it, the Gazette, extend the application of the provisions of subsection (1) of this section to other categories of Nigerians who shall have obtained such diplomas, certificates or other qualifications as may "be prescribed in the Order from universities, colleges and other institutions of higher learning within or outside Nigeria, and the Order may specify different dates for call-up in relation to different categories of those affected or to be affected by the Order. Therefore, the president should as a matter of urgency, intervene to correct this unjustifiable exclusion of Open university graduates from National Youth Service.

Abdulrazaq O Hamzat Congress of Noun Students

you just showed your ignorance, NOUN wasn't established foe young people who want to go for NYSC, its a part time school did you write jamb to be admitted ?? didn't you see the new law guiding service. before you make public certain things try and make good research about them so you don't appear stupid

LaRoyalHighness:
And law school?.. Learnt they refused to admit students from NOUN.

NOUN is a part time school, not part of the normal routine universities

AbuuUsaamah:
This is what happens when you think you are smarter than your counterparts who go through a lot studying in the four walls of a classroom.

my broda u ve said d main reason n if such happen, it wil taint d integrity of d scheme. Whr dia is No regorous teaching is just all abt fetching cash n let them goo, Mtchewwwww

Raxxye:
Is that why you wrote all that long epistle?
Isn't NOUN a part-time degree program? Part-time graduates(even from conventional universities) do not participate in the NYSC from the word go!

And what's the biggie about NYSC by the way? Those of us who went do sometimes wish we had used our time for better things to improve our lives.

bro be sure about what you post...even part-time graduate are entitled to participate after all it National Youth Service not National fulltime or whatever and again it is clearly stated on NYSC portal that part-time graduate can participate(mobilize)even thou they qualify for exclusion ....be sure to verify ur claim .....and I can bet u enjoy ur 1 year....nobody forced u.....

alotofgrace:
I believe private and foreign grads be barred too.

Cos wen the service was launched, No private institution existed

bro na u make sense pass...see,it shudnt matter u go to NOUN or u be part time ....shebi na National YOUTH service ..this people sef

Habeyy:
bro na u make sense pass...see,it shudnt matter u go to NOUN or u be part time ....shebi na National YOUTH service ..this people sef

Grads Na grads bro

Habeyy:
bro be sure about what you post...even part-time graduate are entitled to participate after all it National Youth Service not National fulltime or whatever and again it is clearly stated on NYSC portal that part-time graduate can participate(mobilize)even thou they qualify for exclusion ....be sure to verify ur claim .....and I can bet u enjoy ur 1 year....nobody forced u.....

Lol@ bolded part. You can't be so sure that I enjoyed it.
It was compulsory, so I was forced.
How many part-time graduates have you seen going for NYSC?

nzeobi:

Allawi for twelve months is 250k + 65 k spent on uniform and all the money spent on feeding them in camp.
Their state governors can also contribute 50k each.
Baba its possible just believe.

Not where the money is or whether its possible.

Its a bad idea.

U should be talking about how to invest such money which turns into billions of naira yearly to important aspects of the economy.

Only 5 percent of graduates have the ability to do business, and only 0.5 percent will succeed on the long run.

nzeobi:
I even suggest buhari should ban that NYSC stuff, the only thing people do there is just to go take pictures.
Every graduate should be given like 500k to venture in agriculture or something else and not wasting one year wearing khaki and T shirt around.
My opinion though

that's because the aim of service is 'dead '.

imagine guys going to camp and all they think of is mami, fyiok and sleep during lectures.

if they punish, they complain that they are adults and graduates #smh

some even tell stories of how they serve young girl's CUNTinent while teaching in their various schools. nah wah oh!



well, in my days camp use to be in the jungle and not in any house.

As long as you are in Nigeria certificate doesn't really matters... the most important thing is CONNECTION!

ademasta:

NOUN would be ok in your case, as it gives you time to read at your own pace, assemble in school maybe 2 or 3 times a year for collection of exam materials and the exams itself. So, just continue with your job while you use the other hand to run your NOUN...(ABI YOU SELF WAN SERVE BY FORCE?) But as per sounding youths out there, say NO to NOUN for now. Who knws, things may change for good with NOUN later!

Thanks

itzWarner:
Too long
There is no way I'm reading all that

me too

No JAMB, No NYSC.

chuna1985:


Not where the money is or whether its possible.

Its a bad idea.

U should be talking about how to invest such money which turns into billions of naira yearly to important aspects of the economy.

Only 5 percent of graduates have the ability to do business, and only 0.5 percent will succeed on the long run.

I av noticed you are comfortable being a salary earner. Which other way will govt create jobs if not by empowering the youths who are leaders of tomorrow.

AbuuUsaamah:
This is what happens when you think you are smarter than your counterparts who go through a lot studying in the four walls of a classroom.

I disagree with you. There are people who may not have sponsors to caters for their fees, accomodation, feeding and the rest as a day student. The only way such people can acquire education is do some sort of jobs while at the same time finding time for their studies. They are not being smart as you stated. They are not just opportuned.

U guys should read the write up well. The purpose of NYSC was to teach the Nigerian youth patriotism and to unit the country. NYSC should be re vamped in line with what it's original purpose was. It may juss be nigeria's way out of tribalism and nepotism cause during that one year a lot of bonds are formed accross regional lines.

Dose wey serve, wetin d useless government don do 4 dem?

First of all"..I can't read what you wrote because my head is jamming like a photocopying machine. No paragraphs, no spacing, nothing. Maybe that why NOUN is being rejected. No hating, my opinion.

Kilo tan oh?

tinuolababy:
Lobatan

Guys, most of u are really discriminating there are grads from conventional universities out there who can not defend their certificate. Attending any of the conventional university does not mean u are academically better than noun student

BaddieKay:



The people u know there how do they write their exams and assignments if u claim they don't read?I seriously don't believe a dull fellow can imagine being a NOUN student... Anyways Back to Reading,have exams 2Mao morning

Under ur canopy! LMAO.

U might even want to say NOUN is one of the best if not the best university in Nigeria.

It has been brought to my attention that some people who knew nothing about Open University continue to speak ignorantly about the school being a part time school, No...you are wrong.

Open University is not a part time school, it doesn't run part time programme, it has never been.

Open University is full time school...FULL TIME. The mode of learning is Open and distance learning....Not part time. BE EDUCATED instead of speaking out of ignorance.

Also, i have equally read that some people claim that school is basically meant for adults, but this is another false notion.

Open university is meant for everyone, young, old, adult, teenager etc. It is a school for all those who seek education irrespective of their status, location or financial capability. It is flexible and open to accommodate all your contrains.

I believe there are full time and part time students, so it may only apply to part time students and not full time. Unilag does same, no NYSC service for those that went through DLI which I am one of them. All they do is collate names and send to NYSC for certificate/letter of exemption.

I think the authorities should do something about this. is for every graduate of nigerian school not a particular school

barbiegirl4luv:


Under ur canopy! LMAO.

U might even want to say NOUN is one of the best if not the best university in Nigeria.

U ended up not answering my question...Good morning ma

metorichmond:
I am doing my master now @ open university sha. Hp coys won't tell me nonsense when out for jobs with big pay. Loool.

looking to do my masters wif em just tat i dnt knw aw dere operate....feed me mo?

barbiegirl4luv:

Under ur canopy! LMAO.
U might even want to say NOUN is one of the best if not the best university in Nigeria.

I do not know your school, but i can assure you that an average student in Open University is better than the best student in school. Quote me anywhere.


If you doubt, i will personally facilitate a debate or competition between your school and Open university to clear your doubt.

No school can be compared to Open University in Nigeria in term of academic grinding....This is the only university where your mark equals your work. Write your exam now, get your score now. No seeing lecturer, no this, no that. its almost a zero % mal practice....

Even those exams you write on paper, they mark it like WAEC.. write exam in Lagos Study centre, its being marked may be in Kano, or calabar.

I repeat, no school can be compared.


every student who eventually graduate from Open University cannot be compared

I am also doing my Masters in Open University. i will be thru this coming semester.

there are lots of ignorant youths 2day cos I dnt see why u wont make enquiry before venturing into sumtin. NOUN is actually meant for busy pple (working class)besides I dnt see any benefit of Nysc rather waste of time.