The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has disclosed that about 95 graduates with fake certificates from Nigerian and foreign universities were apprehended and handed to security agencies during the last orientation exercise.

Just as he threatened to blacklist any institution caught including the names of unqualified persons for mobilization into the NYSC.

Speaking on Minna, Niger state on Wednesday at the 2019 Batch ‘C’ pre-mobilization workshop, he said that 65 out of the arrested graduates were from universities in Nigeria while 30 others were from other West African universities.

“Regarding fraudulent certificates, we have apprehended 65 fake students from universities in Nigeria and from other West African universities, we have arrested about 30. We have handed them over to the police for prosecution.”

He revealed that some tertiary institutions in Nigeria still engage in the sale of Degree and HND certificates and statement of Results to unqualified persons in a bid to smuggle them into being mobilized for NYSC.

The DG lamented that this attempt is threatening the credibility of the NYSC mobilization process adding that the action has grave implications for the socio-economic development of the country.

“It is worrisome to note that some unscrupulous persons still indulge in the sale of Degree and HND Certificates and Statement of Results to unqualified persons. It has also been observed that names of unqualified persons are included in the Senate/Academic Board approved list uploaded on the NYSC registration portal by some corps producing institutions.

“It is quite unfortunate that some Corps producing Institutions are still in the habit of uploading part-time and overaged graduates for mobilization. This is one of the challenges we are out to tackle headlong, this attempt in some quarters to threaten the credibility of the process.

“Acts such as presentation of fake academic credentials and attempts to smuggle names of unqualified persons into the mobilization lists submitted by some Corps producing institutions are condemnable and will continue to face stiff resistance from the scheme. ”

The NYSC DG then warned that the Agency will not hesitate to blacklist and publish in the National dailies any tertiary institution that continues to include names of unqualified persons in their uploaded data.

“It is known fact that one can only print out data inputted into the computer, hence the claim of ignorance of how strange names entered a Senate/Academic Board approved list is unfounded. Where such infraction occurs, it is certain that the login details of the students’ Affairs Officers (SAO) or the Registrar have been compromised.

“I wish to use this medium to remind Registrars and SAOs that they are responsible for the protection of their login details and will be held accountable for any infraction in the performance of their duties relating to the mobilization process.”

The Director-General said that the Pre-mobilization workshop is organized to draw a roadmap for the eradication of all observed anomalies as well as enthronement of integrity in the Mobilization process adding that the workshop will also come to with more strategies to curb fraudulent practices and enhance the efficiency of the mobilization process.

In her address, the Deputy Director of Mobilization, Mrs. Victoria Ango raised alarm over the scourge of fraudulent enrollment of foreign-trained graduates for national service adding that the Agency is taking a nascent approach to tackle the scourge.

“It is sad to admit here that on the local scene, issues such as deliberate enlistment of overaged and part-time graduates, mischievous mobilization of graduates of unapproved courses through cross-matching with approved departments and suspicious insider connivance to hack and upload unqualified persons have not yet abated.”

Niger state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to reduce the challenges of the Scheme in the state. (The Nation)

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