4th November, 2011
Graduating students of the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu, have staged a peaceful demonstration, demanding their inclusion in the Batch C of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC service year.
The more than 100 students carried placards and matched to the state House of Assembly, where they called for the urgent intervention of the lawmakers.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, had recently withdrawn its accreditation for some courses being offered by the institute.
The Spokesman for the students, Mr Festus Eluke, told NAN that before the NBTE’s action, they had been mobilised and given call-up numbers that would enable them to participate in the scheme.
He noted with regret that instead of collecting their call-up letters for the NYSC orientation programme, scheduled for 15 November, they were informed that they had been put on hold.
“If IMT management commits any offence against NBTE, it should be punished and not the studentsâ€.
Eluke described the NBTE’s action against the institution as unjustified, warning of the dire consequences that might lead to restiveness by the students and their engagement in social vices.
Addressing the students, Mr Sunday Ude-Okoye, the House Majority Leader, commended them for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves.
“By this show of concern, you have demonstrated your genuine desire to serve the nation.â€
He assured them that the state government would contact the management of IMT and take appropriate measures to resolve the issue.
The institute’s Acting Director of Students’ Affairs, Mr Sylvanus Asogwa, told NAN on the phone that the management was already looking into the students’ predicament, but confirmed that they would not be part of the Bath ‘C’ service year.
He promised that efforts were ongoing to re-register the affected students for the next NYSC batch as soon as negotiations with NBTE were concluded.