This is an open letter to the Vice-Chancellor of the Modibbo Adama University of Technology concerning the non-issuance of the NYSC exemption letter to some students of Language and Communication Art of the Centre for Distance Learning, who graduated more than four years ago.
The sad situation arose when some of the students that graduated were issued the NYSC exemption letter together with the testimonial, but some of them who had carry-over or some other deficiency and did not graduate immediately were of course not qualified to graduate and go for the national service. After they eventually met the graduation requirements, they have not been issued the NYSC exemption letter to date.
On inquiry from the office of Dean of Students Affairs, it was it was discovered that there was a problem between the university and the National Universities Commission regarding the accreditation of the course. The matter has lingered, and the story has continued to change with no cogent reason; the affected students have not been told anything as to the reason why they were not given the exemption letter like their colleagues.
The worst affected students are those that graduated in 2012, with about 50 of them yet to collect their NYSC exemption letters. This has put some of them, especially those working with federal establishments in a precarious situation, thereby preventing them from benefiting from promotion exercise in the ministries, departments and agencies where they work due to non-presentation of the NYSC exemption letter as clear and solid evidence that they finished a degree course with the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola.
It is quite imperative for the Vice-Chancellor and the Governing Council to rectify whatever problem the institution has with the National Universities Commission on accreditation and then issue the 2012 set of students who studied Language and Communication Arts in the university with the requisite NYSC exemption letter given to their course-mates that had no problem.
It is disheartening that the university has till date not addressed this issue and give the students an explanation and a closure. The students deserve to know the true position regarding this vital matter. In the spirit of fairness, justice and equity, the university authorities owe a duty to provide the affected students an acceptable explanation.
Expectedly, the Minister of Education, Prof Adamu Adamu, needs to look into this matter, as a father and the representative of the Visitor to the university, to find a way out of the conundrum so that the students affected would have a sense of relief. At present, the students are in dilemma.
Prof Adamu please wade into the problem so that those students can be issued the NYSC exemption letter to enable them become recognised as graduates exempted from NYSC due to age.
The leadership of Modibbo Adama University should as a matter of urgency put its act together and see to it secure the release of the vital letter of exemption that the affected ex-students need to prove that they have completed their studies and graduated, and be able to carry on with other life pursuits.
It would be something of a disservice on the part of the university if 2012 set of students, who have met the requirements in terms of examinations scores and have therefore rectified the issue regarding credit hours specified to be obtained in the course are left in limbo without being given the NYSC exemption letter. The university must not allow the frustration of the affected students continue to grow and possibly drive any of them into a precipitate action. A stitch in time save nine.
►Usman Garba wrote from No2 Santuraki Close, Jambutu, Jimeta-Yola