Fake Graduates: NYSC Demobilises 54, Threatens Legal Action

BY NGOZI NWANKWO, ABUJA – In its continuous efforts to sanitize the system and prevent unqualified graduates from getting the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharged Certificate, 54 Corps members illegally mobilized by the University of Calabar (UNICAL) in Cross River State, have been demobilized by the management of the scheme.

Brigadier General Yakubu D Ahmed, Director General of the NYSC who announced this in Abuja at the weekend, said the 54 illegally mobilized graduates would be made to face prosecution.

Ahmed said 19 among the number that initially registered online for mobilization have been prevented from the Service, while four Certificates of National Service for other culprits were not produced by the Scheme.

This was in addition to the earlier 101 certificates that were recently voided by the Scheme, bring the sum total to 178.

The Director General of the NYSC showered encomiums on the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi for her forthrightness to have hinted the NYSC on the mobilization of unqualified graduates from her institution.

Ahmed said the NYSC would leave no stone unturned towards sanitizing its mobilisation process.

He said; “The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar came here to report that she observed some names appeared on the institution’s list and they ought not to have been there.

“She checked the list the school gave us and I told her that their certificates would be invalidated. I give kudos to the Vice-Chancellor,” he said.

The NYSC boss noted that previously, a bread seller was mobilized on the graduation list from the same institution, adding that there are bad eggs in many places that generate matriculation numbers and courses for their candidates.

Ahmed further said that the Scheme would intensify its collaboration with all the Heads of Corps Producing Institutions and relevant stakeholders in the country in order to stop the menace, adding that any failure in the mobilisation process from any school falls on the integrity of the management of such institution.

He said; “Those who are responsible for imputing the data of graduates should be people of integrity”.

The Director General tasked employers of labour in the country to verify the authenticity of Certificates of National Service being presented for job placement from the NYSC.