Are you a Nigerian graduate looking to collect or replace your Certificate of Exemption from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)? Whether you studied at home (Nigeria) or abroad, here’s everything you need to know to about this process.
Who Needs a Certificate of Exemption?
According to the National Youth Service Corps Decree 1993, individuals are exempt from the NYSC if they meet any of the following criteria:
- Over 30 years old at the time of graduation.
- Served in the Armed Forces or Nigeria Police Force for over nine months.
- Worked with any of the following agencies:
- Nigerian Security Organization
- State Security Service
- National Intelligence Agency
- Defence Intelligence Service
- Conferred with any National Honour.
Those who fall into these categories receive a Certificate of Exemption, freeing them from the mandatory NYSC service.
Eligibility for Certificate of Exemption
To be eligible, Nigerian graduates—whether trained locally or abroad—must hold a B.Sc, B.A, or HND from an accredited institution (approved by NUC, NTBE, or NCCE). Foreign-trained graduates need to submit their certificates to the Mobilization Department for evaluation.
How to Collect Your Certificate of Exemption
For Home-Trained Graduates:
- The process starts at your tertiary institution. They will submit a master list of graduates and the Senate-approved results to NYSC.
- NYSC will classify who should be called up for service and who should be exempted. This print-out is sent back to your institution for verification.
- Once verified, NYSC produces and sends the Certificates of Exemption to your institution, where you can collect it.
Important: Certificates for home-trained graduates are only collected at your place of graduation, not at the NYSC office.
For Foreign-Trained Graduates:
- Begin by having your credentials and documents (including your international passport) evaluated at the NYSC Directorate Headquarters in Abuja.
- Register at the NYSC headquarters. Your exemption status will be determined during this process.
- Exemption certificates for foreign graduates can only be collected at the NYSC headquarters. Collection is organized in three batches throughout the service year, and you will be notified of your specific batch.
Important: You must be physically present with identification (such as your international passport) to collect your certificate.
Replacement of a Lost Certificate
For Home-Trained Graduates:
- Submit a request letter through your institution addressed to the Director-General, NYSC.
- Include a police extract/report.
- Provide a court affidavit.
- Attach a copy of the lost certificate if available.
For Foreign-Trained Graduates:
- Send a letter of request addressed to the Director-General, NYSC.
- Include a police extract/report.
- Provide a court affidavit.
- Attach a photocopy of your international passport.
- Include a copy of the lost certificate if available.
Note: NYSC does not reprint lost or burned certificates. Instead, they issue Letters of Confirmation.
For Corrections and Complaints
- Home-Trained Graduates: Any issues or corrections should be routed through your institution, which will forward them to NYSC with the necessary documents.
- Foreign-Trained Graduates: Submit a handwritten application, including a photocopy of your international passport (data page), the original Certificate of Exemption (if available), and a covering letter addressed to the Director-General, NYSC, Abuja.
Difference Between NYSC Discharge Letter And Exemption
For those of you wondering what sets apart an NYSC Discharge Certificate from an Exemption Certificate, here’s a clear breakdown:
NYSC Discharge Certificate: This certificate is awarded to individuals who have successfully completed the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program. It signifies that you have fulfilled the national service requirement and are now fully integrated into your professional and societal roles.
Exemption Certificate: This is issued to individuals who are exempted from participating in the NYSC program due to specific reasons. These can include:
For further details and to stay updated on any changes, make sure to check the official NYSC website and contact their support if needed.