Recent developments, in connection with the mobilization exercise, of prospective Corps participants for Batch ‘B’ of the 2007 Service Year, necessitated an emergency meeting of Lagos State University SENATE, on Tuesday 17^th July, 2007, which deliberated on the developments, as they relate to affected graduating students of Lagos State University, who had been recommended by the University, to the NYSC Directorate, for participation in the National Youth Service programme.

 

The University SENATE NOTED, from the REPORT presented on the matter, as follows:

 

[I]        Lagos State University recently received a letter, dated 25^th June, 2007 from the NYSC Directorate Headquarters, on the mobilization exercise of prospective Corps participants, for Batch ‘B’ of the 2007 Service Year. In the letter under reference NYSC:

• EXPRESSED the need for reduction of prospective Corps participants, which was informed, by Federal Government Budgetary provision for NYSC, for which […….only 120,000 prospective Corps members will be eligible to participate in the 2007 service year].

• INDICATED that out of the 120,000, [ …….a total of 76,815 Corps members have already been mobilized, for the 2007 Batch ‘A’ service year, thereby leaving a balance of 44,184 for the 2007 Batch ‘B’ service year].

• DIRECTED Lagos State University, to reduce its recommended prospective Corps participants to Eight hundred and Eight [808].

[II]       At the time the NYSC directive was received, Lagos State University was on its long vacation, AND was due to resume for a new session, on Monday 16^th July, 2007.

 

[III]      In line with normal practice, the Senior Assistant Registrar [Students] Lagos State University, visited NYSC Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja on Monday 9^th July, 2007, to submit Lagos State University Print-out, in respect of mobilization of Corps members, for the  Batch ‘B’ of the 2007  Service Year.

 

 [IV]     Officials of NYSC Directorate however, insisted that Lagos State University should proceed to prune down, the number of its recommended Corps participants, from the initial 1802 to 808, in line with NYSC letter under reference.

 

[V]       NYSC officials, refused to accept Lagos State University submission, on the premise that Lagos State University did NOT comply, with the number of Corps participants recently allocated to the University, vide NYSC letter under reference.

 

[VI]      The University SENATE at its various meetings, had given approval to the Graduating Students results, presented by the respective Faculties, before the University went on long vacation, on Monday 21^st May, 2007.

 

[VII]    Whilst the University was on its long vacation, the Vice-Chancellor after receiving appeals from the Faculties, granted executive approval to some outstanding Graduating Students’ results, such that the names of affected Graduating Students, were added to Lagos State University submission, to NYSC. With this development, the total number of Lagos State University prospective Corps participants, now stands at 2091 with the following breakdown

 

• The Regular [Prospective Corps Participants]:           2027
• The Remobilized [Prospective Corps Participants]:       64             

                          Total                           2,091 

[VIII]   In compliance with the directive, given by NYSC Deputy Director of Mobilization, the Senior Assistant Registrar [Students], Lagos State University, was back at the NYSC Headquarters, on Friday 13^th July, 2007 to re-submit the documents, in respect of 2091 prospective Corps participants, from Lagos State University, on which occasion it was expected, that NYSC would accept Lagos State University submission.

 

[IX]      NYSC on Friday 13^th July, 2007, again refused to accept Lagos State University submission, from the Senior Assistant Registrar [Students]. The action according to NYSC, was in view of non-compliance by Lagos State University, with the recent NYSC allocation of 808 Corps participants, to the University.

 

[X]       Lagos State University is required statutorily, to submit the list of its prospective Corps participants to NYSC. That the University has done, regardless of the non-acceptance of Lagos State University submission, by NYSC Directorate.

 

[XI]      It is the statutory responsibility of NYSC, to mobilize ALL prospective Corps participants for Service.

 

[XII]    Participation in the National Service programme, is a conditionality for being considered for employment by any employing organizations AND institutions.

 

[XIII]   To delete names of some Graduates, from the University submission, will purely be arbitrary.

 

SENATE after deliberations AGREED as follows:

 

[A]       Lagos State University indeed, presented its submission to National Youth Service Corps [NYSC], on two (2) occasions before the stipulated deadline by NYSC.

 

[B]       Lagos State University updated submission, of 2091 prospective Corps participants, should be re-submitted to the Directorate of National Youth Service Corps [NYSC], as required by Law, with a request to NYSC to mobilize, ALL the 2091  prospective Corps participants.

 

[C]       NYSC may have to consider the option, of issuing Lagos State University          Graduates, who are NOT mobilized for National Service, with exemption letters.

 

[D]       The University Administration should endeavour, to carry along Lagos State University students, their Parents, Guardians, AND other stakeholders, on this very important issue, as well as, keep them informed of further developments, as they arise, inter-alia through Advertorial in selected Newspapers.

 

Lagos State University Students, their Parents, Guardians AND other Stakeholders, are therefore ADVISED TO NOTE, the fore-going developments AND the position of Lagos State University SENATE.

 

UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT