National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned corps producing institutions against manipulation of data to allow unqualified graduates enrol for service and other unwholesome practices.

The NYSC director-general, Brigadier General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed gave the warning yesterday during the meeting of NYSC Management with the Registrars of Corps Producing Institutions in Nigeria, held in Abuja.

He re-echoed the corps strong determination to prevent unqualified graduates from enlistment into national service, while decrying the continuous decline of quality graduates from unaccredited institutions.

Ahmed added that management would deal decisively with any institution or individual found culpable in such acts.

“I have been informed that, since the end of the first meeting with the Registrars in 2022, there has been an appreciable level of implementation of resolutions of Pre-mobilisation Workshops usually attended by Student Affairs Officers (SAOs) and Data Entry Officers (DEOs).

“While I am glad about the positive feedback, more still needs to be done to make the mobilisation process more seamless.

“For instance, the continuous decline of quality of graduates which has largely been attributed to factors such as harvest of graduates from unaccredited institutions, manipulation of data to allow part-time graduates enrol for service and other unwholesome practices leaves much to be desired from the citadels of learning. Management is determined not to take it lightly with institutions or individuals perpetrating these acts intermittently.

“In recent times, the NYSC has consistently harped on appointment of credible Students Affairs Officers (SAOs) and Data Entry Officers (DEOs). In this regard, let me re-echo our call taking cognizance of the fact that no one can guarantee excellent output when the quality of input is not guaranteed,” he said.

The chairman, NYSC National Governing Board, Ambassador Fatima Balla Abubakar, who was represented by a member of the board, Major General BS Adetoro, in her goodwill message enjoined participants at the meeting to critically assess all the steps in the mobilisation process and fashion out a formidable template that will guarantee unassailable mobilisation process.

The director, Corps Mobilisation Department, Hajiya Isa Walida Siddique, enjoined the Registrars to step up their game in the admission of qualified students and their progression till graduation.

The permanent secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Mr Olusade Adesola, who opened the meeting, said the giant strides in the FCT is attributable to the selfless services of corps members deployed to serve within the capital territory.