The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has demobilized 54 graduates from the University of Calabar who were illegally mobilised for the scheme.
This action was taken to prevent the issuance of Certificates of National Service to individuals who do not meet the necessary qualifications.
In a statement released on Friday night by Eddy Megwa, the NYSC’s Director of Information and Public Relations, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Yusha’u Ahmed, revealed that the demobilised individuals would face prosecution.
Out of the 54 individuals, 19 had initially registered online for mobilisation but were subsequently barred from service. Additionally, the NYSC withheld the production of Certificates of National Service for four other culprits.
Earlier in the week, the NYSC invalidated the certificates of 101 graduates from the University of Calabar who were fraudulently mobilised between 2021 and 2023. Following this, the university’s Pro-Chancellor, DIG Udom Ekpoudom (retd.), praised the NYSC for exposing the fake graduates and pledged to take action against any staff involved in the fraudulent mobilisation.
Brigadier-General Ahmed highlighted a particular case where a bread seller was illegally mobilised as a graduate from the University of Calabar. He commended the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Florence Obi, for alerting the NYSC about the illegal mobilisations.
“The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar reported to us that she noticed some names on the institution’s graduation list that should not have been there. She cross-checked the list provided by the school, and I assured her that the certificates of those individuals would be invalidated. I commend the Vice-Chancellor for her integrity,” Ahmed said.
He further stated that the NYSC would continue to work closely with Heads of Corps Producing Institutions and other relevant stakeholders to prevent such fraudulent activities in the future. Ahmed also emphasised that any lapses in the mobilisation process reflect poorly on the management of the institution involved, urging that only individuals of integrity be entrusted with inputting graduate data.
The NYSC DG called on employers across the country to verify the authenticity of National Service certificates presented by job applicants.
