How to Apply for NYSC Exemption Letter for NOUN

Upon completing their tertiary education and receiving an academic degree, students in Nigeria are obligated to participate in a mandatory one-year service program called the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

This program applies to all Nigerian graduates, regardless of whether they studied within or outside the country. However, there are certain circumstances that may exempt a graduate from this mandatory service year. In such cases, the graduate will receive a certificate of exemption from the NYSC instead of being called up for national service.

The NYSC certificate of exemption holds the same value as the NYSC discharge certificate and can be used interchangeably when necessary. It is important to note that graduates cannot personally request an exemption unless they meet the specific requirements for it.

If you are interested in applying for the NYSC certificate of exemption, you’ve come to the right place to find the information you need.

In this post, I will outline the requirements for obtaining an exemption letter and explain the procedures involved in applying for the NYSC Certificate of Exemption.

What is NYSC Exemption Letter?

The NYSC Certificate of Exemption is a document issued to Nigerian graduates who are exempted from the mandatory one-year NYSC service program. According to the law, every Nigerian graduate, regardless of whether they studied in Nigeria or abroad, is required to participate in the NYSC scheme.

However, if a graduate meets certain criteria, they can be granted an exemption from the program. The Certificate of Exemption serves as proof that the graduate was not required to undergo the NYSC service year but was exempted due to specific circumstances or limitations.

It is important to note that the NYSC Certificate of Exemption can be used in place of the NYSC discharge certificate, which is awarded upon successful completion of the NYSC program.

Who can apply for the NYSC Certificate of Exemption?

The NYSC program is a mandatory program for every Nigerian graduate both within and outside the country. Hence, as you can imagine, not everyone can get their hands on the Certificate of exemption or exemption letter.

Those who are given the right to apply for the certificate of exemption (exemption letter) according to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Degree 1993 section 2 subsection (1) are Nigerian graduates who at the date of their graduation;

1. He/she is above the age of thirty (30) years
2. He/she has served in any branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces (Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and Nigerian Air Force) or in the Nigerian Police Force for more than nine (9) months
3. He/she is a member or staff in any of the following organizations:
   1. The Nigerian Security Organization, or
   2. The National Intelligence Agency, or
   3. The State Security Service, or
   4. The Defence Intelligence Service
4. He/she has been awarded any National Honour.

How to Apply for NYSC Exemption Letter

To apply for the NYSC Certificate of Exemption, follow these steps:

1. Visit the National Youth Service Corps State Secretariat located near you.
2. Inform the attendant of your intention to apply for the NYSC certificate of exemption.
3. The relevant department will provide you with an application form for the exemption letter.
4. Fill out the application form accurately and sign it.
5. Gather the necessary documents required for obtaining the exemption letter, including:
   • Completed application form
   • Academic qualification documents
   • Approved result
   • Valid identification document
   • Supporting documents as instructed by the officials.
6. Submit the filled application form and all the required documents to the appropriate authority.
7. Make the prescribed payment as directed by the officials.
8. Your application will undergo validation and verification by the authorities.
9. Once the validation and verification process is completed, your application will be approved.
10. You will receive a notification when your Exemption letter is ready for collection. Visit your institution to collect the certificate.

It is important to follow the instructions provided by the NYSC officials and ensure that all required documents are included in your application to avoid delays or complications in the process.

How to Apply for the NYSC Certificate of Exemption for NOUN

To apply for the NYSC Certificate of Exemption if you graduated from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), follow these steps:

1. Visit the official NYSC portal at http://portal.nysc.org.ng.
2. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “Check senate list or its equivalents” to confirm your NYSC details.
3. Return to the NYSC homepage at http://portal.nysc.org.ng.
4. Click on the “Mobilization Batch” icon.
5. Click on the “Fresh Registration” icon, and you will be redirected to another page to create an account.
6. Fill in the required details in the provided spaces and click on “Continue.”
7. Verify your email address by clicking on the link sent to you.
8. Confirm and continue with the NYSC account creation/registration process.
9. Fill in the required details in the available spaces and click on “Submit and Continue.” (Select “Part-time” to ignore JAMB regularization number if applicable.)
10. Choose your preferred payment option on the displayed payment page.
11. Make the payment. The required payment is typically less than N3,000.
12. Check your NYSC dashboard to see if the Certificate of Exemption is available for immediate printing. If not, check again after a few days and proceed to print it out.

Make sure to complete each step accurately and follow the instructions provided on the NYSC portal.