Adamu Sunday, a 2024 graduate of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), finds himself trapped in a bureaucratic nightmare that has left him battling depression. His ordeal began with the shocking discovery that his Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) registration number had been used by another individual to enroll in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), a mandatory one-year national service program in Nigeria. This unauthorized use has effectively barred Sunday from participating in the NYSC, a crucial step for career advancement in the country, leaving him feeling helpless and questioning the value of his hard-earned degree. He alleges that the university is responsible for the mix-up, claiming they assigned his registration number to someone else, enabling that person to serve in his place.
Sunday’s attempts to rectify the situation have been met with resistance and indifference from the university administration. When he first discovered the issue upon his unsuccessful NYSC enrollment application, the university’s Data Entry Officer informed him that records indicated he had already served in 2019, a claim impossible given he had only commenced his studies that year due to an academic strike. Despite providing evidence and explanations, his concerns were dismissed. He then sought verification from JAMB, which confirmed him as the rightful owner of the disputed registration number and revealed that it had indeed been used for another person’s NYSC mobilization. Armed with this confirmation, Sunday returned to NSUK, hoping for a resolution, only to be met with further delays and unfulfilled promises of investigation by the Student Affairs Division.
His efforts to escalate the matter within the university hierarchy proved equally futile. Despite involving his Head of Department, who advised a formal letter to the Dean of Student Affairs, and even seeking intervention from the Vice-Chancellor’s office, Sunday was repeatedly redirected back to the uncooperative Student Affairs Division. The university officials, he alleges, not only dismissed the Vice-Chancellor’s intervention but also pressured him to undergo JAMB regularization, a process he feared would invalidate his academic credentials. This advice contradicted the counsel he received from JAMB officials and other sources who warned against regularization, further compounding his predicament.
Frustrated by the lack of progress within the university, Sunday sought assistance from external bodies, including JAMB and NYSC headquarters. Both organizations acknowledged his complaint, but while JAMB reaffirmed his ownership of the registration number, NYSC indicated they primarily work with lists provided by universities, placing the onus back on NSUK. This bureaucratic loop left Sunday feeling trapped and powerless. His return to NSUK following these external appeals was met with mockery and further insistence on JAMB regularization, a solution he vehemently opposed. The Data Entry Officer allegedly taunted him, claiming he could report the matter anywhere without consequence, further highlighting the perceived impunity within the university.
The situation has taken a severe toll on Sunday’s mental health, leaving him deeply depressed and contemplating drastic measures. He expresses anguish at the thought of someone else benefiting from his years of academic labor, using his registration number to obtain an NYSC certificate and potentially secure employment, while his own future remains uncertain. He feels cheated and robbed of the opportunity to legitimately participate in the NYSC, a crucial step for career progression in Nigeria. The injustice of the situation, compounded by the university’s alleged indifference and dismissive attitude, has left him feeling hopeless and questioning the value of his education.
Sunday’s desperate plea for justice resonates with the challenges faced by many graduates navigating complex bureaucratic systems. His case highlights the potential for administrative errors to have devastating consequences on individuals’ lives and careers. He urgently appeals to relevant authorities, including JAMB, NYSC, and the Federal Ministry of Education, to intervene and ensure a fair resolution. He seeks not only the opportunity to rightfully participate in the NYSC program but also accountability for the administrative oversight that led to this distressing situation. The lack of response from the university spokesman further underscores the need for external intervention to ensure transparency and justice in this matter.
