The Union of Concerned Academics (UCA) has defended the Federal Government’s decision to exclude some graduates of tertiary institutions from the Niger Republic from the mandatory national service organised by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The organisation insisted that their exclusion stems from the lack of proper accreditation of some Niger Republic–based tertiary institutions.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, the Chairman of UCA, Dr Ayanlola Ayanyimika, described as “misleading and politically motivated” claims by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Niger Republic Chapter, that some of its members were unfairly denied participation in the NYSC scheme.
Ayanyimika maintained that the affected institutions do not possess accreditation from the National Agency for Quality Assurance of Higher Education, the statutory body responsible for regulating higher education in Niger Republic.
He stated, “Let it be stated clearly and without ambiguity that the institutions being defended do not have accreditation or official recognition from the appropriate authority in Niger Republic
“Any claim suggesting otherwise is misleading and inconsistent with verified records.”
The UCA chairman commended the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education for what he described as a firm commitment to due process and the protection of Nigeria’s academic standards.
“At a time when pressure is being mounted on government institutions, the insistence that no academic certificate will be recognised outside established regulatory procedures reflects responsible leadership,” he added.
Ayanyimika also praised the role of the Nigeria–Niger Joint Commission for Cooperation for providing what he called a verified list of legitimately accredited institutions in the Niger Republic, noting that the move has helped counter misinformation circulating in the public domain.
Addressing the affected students directly, Ayanyimika urged the affected students to hold their institutions accountable rather than blaming the federal government.
Ayanyimika added, “Students should return to their schools and ask a fundamental question: why have these institutions failed to obtain accreditation from their own national quality assurance authority?”
“The silence on this issue should concern every student.”
He recalled previous regulatory actions by the National Universities Commission (NUC), which had shut down illegal satellite campuses operated by some foreign institutions in Gusau, Zamfara State, describing such operations as a violation of Nigeria’s higher education laws.
According to him, international frameworks also support Nigeria’s stance, particularly the Addis Ababa Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees and Other Academic Qualifications in Higher Education in African States.
He said, “No institution can legitimately seek recognition of its certificates in a foreign country if it is not first accredited in its country of origin.
“This principle is a safeguard against academic fraud.”
He stressed that the Federal Government’s insistence on proper accreditation verification before granting recognition for NYSC participation was both lawful and necessary.
“No amount of pressure, propaganda, or emotional appeal can substitute for accreditation and academic legitimacy,” he said.
He therefore called on NANS, the Niger Republic chapter, to act responsibly and avoid being used by institutions with questionable regulatory status, insisting that the core issue is not the denial of NYSC enrolment but the failure of some institutions to meet basic accreditation standards.
“Nigeria’s education system must not and will not become a dumping ground for unaccredited qualifications,” Ayanyimika declared.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the union to supporting government efforts to protect Nigerian students and uphold the integrity of the country’s education system, particularly in cross-border academic engagements with Niger Republic.
