Are you a graduate eager to embark on the journey of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nigeria? As you prepare for this phase of your life, understanding how NYSC calculates the age limit for mobilization becomes paramount.
The NYSC age limit is currently set at thirty (30) years, and it prays a role in determining your eligibility to participate in the mandatory one-year national service scheme. Graduates who are older than 30 are not eligible for NYSC mobilization but may be granted a certificate of exemption instead.
The age limit is a factor in ensuring that participants align with the objectives of the NYSC program, fostering unity, reconciliation, and integration among Nigerian youths who graduated before the specified age limit. The article aims to elucidate how NYSC calculates the age limit for mobilization, as understanding this process is important for determining one’s eligibility status
NYSC Age Limit for Mobilization
Please be informed that the age limit for NYSC is thirty (30) years. Any graduate who is above 30 years of age cannot participate in the National Youth Service Corps Program. However, such a graduate will be given a Certificate of Exemption.
The NYSC exemption should not be seen negatively, as the Certificate of Exemption is equivalent to the Discharge Certificate. The only things missed if exempted are the NYSC monthly allowance and service experience. You may also want to check NYSC senate list for all batches.
When Does NYSC Exempt Graduates From Service?
1. When the person exceeds the age of 30 years, or
2. If the person has served in the Nigerian military or paramilitary for one year or more, or
3. When the person is physically ‘disabled.’
Note: If you are a part-time graduate (CEP), an exclusion letter will be given to you. Note that the Exclusion Letter is less than the discharge certificate, but the certificate of exemption is equal to the discharge certificate.
Purpose of NYSC
Understanding the purpose of NYSC will help you know why there is an age limit on the scheme. NYSC is a scheme established by the Federal Govt of Nigeria after the civil war with the primary aim of fostering unity, reconciliation, rebuilding, and reintegrating Nigerians. Those eligible for this service are Nigerian youths who graduated from Universities and Polytechnics within or outside Nigeria before the age of 30.
If someone graduated before 30 years but did not serve for various reasons and now has attained 40 years, the person is still eligible to serve since he/she graduated before 30 years.
How NYSC Calculates Age Limit for Mobilization
NYSC looks into the information submitted to JAMB, and pick the date of birth from the record to calculate the age limit of a prospective corps member. They check your age at the time you graduated from the higher institution. If you are above 30 years at the time of graduation, a letter of exemption will be given.
NYSC is sensitive to days. For instance, if you exceed 30 years by just one day, you are likely to be exempted from the National Youth Service program. In the past, NYSC obtained students’ dates of birth from Corps Producing Institutions (CPIs). However, due to some schools manipulating graduates’ ages, the scheme now relies on JAMB for more reliable information.
If a candidate claims a mistake in their date of birth submitted to JAMB, NYSC can confirm it by checking their O-level details from the West African Examination Council.
Please note that the date of graduation is officially written on your Degree or HND Certificate. The graduation date is not the date of your final exam or project defense but the date your Degree or HND is awarded.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many times does NYSC mobilize graduates every year?
NYSC usually takes 3 Batches every year; Batch A, B, and C. If the number of registered graduates is higher than expected for a Batch, NYSC would split the Batch into ‘Stream 1 & 2’ for logistic reasons.
2. How many graduates are mobilized for each Batch or Stream?
The number may vary, but it is roughly 40,000 graduates for each Batch.
3. Is there any age limit for NYSC participation?
Yes, the age limit is 30 years. Anyone exceeding 30 years will not take part in the National Youth Service Corps but will be awarded a certificate of exemption.
Thank you for reading; if you have questions or contributions, kindly drop them in the comment section below.
Thanks, this is a huge relieve.
Hello,presently am a final year student of Ahmadu Bello University, and if things goes well our present session will be over in November this year. Then, I will be 29yrs and 11 months. Pending whenever my degree is conferred, can I be eligible for service?
Yes, since you graduated before 30
Pls I graduated last year while I was 29 but have not gone for service and now am 30, please will it be possible for me to still serve?
Yes you can serve
Please may I know how I can request for change of name on the NYSC portal??
Please, Click here to learn how to do it
pls I graduated at d age of 29 in 2018, but we are delayed by skul for some reason. but we are now in 2019 I will clock 30 by october . will I b able to serve
Check date of graduation on your statement of result. That is the date NYSC is looking at.
I graduated 2017 but my result was release 2019 and i was born 22/11/1988. Please can i still go service?
Check the graduation date on your result,and use it to calculate your age
How about someone that is 30, can he serve?
You will serve if you graduated before 30 years
Is the month you graduated included in your graduation date?
I think it should be included
hi pls i was born in 1990 and undergraduate at now ,my programme will finish in 2020,I will graduate by then, pls can I serve at that.
You will be 30 by then, you are likely not to serve
And I even had one saying thet the date is before getting to 35 that is after 35 one is not eligible to serve.
I will graduate October 2019 and I will be 29years,is it possible for me to go for service?
Yes
Good morning sir
Thanks for this wonderful work. I graduated since 2007 at the age of 21, but I’ve not served since then. Now I want to serve but am above 30. please is this possible or I’ll be exempted?
It is possible for you to serve
Sir , can someone who applied but his place of work not allowing him to go can the person cancel the registration and go for exemption letter . Already the person is more than 30years already.
No, you cannot cancel it. NYSC alone decide who needs exemption.
I have been graduated on 5/8/2019 and I appeared on the NYSC approved uploaded Senate list but the NYSC said has not been mobilized contact your institution. how should I do ?
I tried to understand what you are saying but couldn’t. Please, contact your Institutions.
I will be 30 by November 23rd. I graduated this year, 2019. Any chance of been mobilize?
Good day, I appreciate your efforts and indeed wish I can ask some personal questions from you (your contact)
Scroll up to the top menu of this website, you’ll see ‘contact us’ link
Good morning, please how can I suspend my nycs service year. I graduated this year which my name came out in the senate list 2019 batch a and I did not go. Even in this batch b, I don’t want to go till next two years due to where am working. What should I do please because am in the state of dilemma.
Since your name is already on the Senate list, just leave it that way until you are ready.
I was mobilized with batch A, Buh I didn’t go wit them but I thumprinted, can I still continue with the registration with batch B
Yes, login to your dashboard and continue from where you stopped…
Can someone suspend his nycs service year? I mean, the person graduated this year and he feel like going to service next three years, will such fellow be allowed.
Yes, it will be allowed.
Can changing of date of birth via NYSC portal reflect on the concerned students WAEC’s date of birth ? if yes, how? And if the corrected date of birth on Nysc portal does not correspond with that of Waec date of birth; what would be the implications and how could such be ameliorated? Thanks.
No, it won’t reflect on the WAEC result date of birth. You can only use WAEC result verification PIN to effect change on NYSC portal for date of birth
What if one was 29years and 11months old at the point of graduation, does one qualify for mobilization?
Yes, the age limit is 30+
Please sir can u calculate for me
August 7 1989
The Senate approved it on 9th of July 2019
Am I eligible?
Thanks for this info.. I have a minor issue, when I registered for jamb I was in Osun state and the person that registered for me used Osun state as my state of Origin but am a native of Oyo State.. On my jamb result slip it shows Osun state as my state of Origin but when I did NYSC Mobilisation I used Oyo State as my state of Origin… What can I do to rectify this error