The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is implementing reforms to address delays in corps mobilisation, the Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, has said.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, Nafiu attributed the delays to multiple factors, many of which lie beyond the scheme’s direct control. These include late uploads of graduates’ details by tertiary institutions, data inconsistencies, and administrative bottlenecks in result approvals.
Nafiu noted that the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s tertiary education sector—from about 10 institutions at inception to over 120 universities, polytechnics, and monotechnics—has significantly increased the volume of graduates awaiting mobilisation. This growth, coupled with the inclusion of graduates from foreign institutions, has complicated coordination and processing.
“Inconsistencies in candidates’ data, especially name variations, also contribute to delays during verification with government databases,” he explained. “We rely on data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and the National Identity Management Commission, so discrepancies must be corrected by the individuals concerned.”
Funding constraints also play a role. While approximately 650,000 graduates are projected for mobilisation annually, government approval currently covers 400,000 for the service year. However, the Federal Government recently added 50,000 to the number for 2026.
To improve the process, Nafiu said the NYSC has restructured its pre-mobilisation procedures, including mandatory training workshops for student affairs officers in tertiary institutions. These workshops aim to reduce errors in data submission and improve understanding of mobilisation procedures.
The scheme has also begun addressing challenges in online registration, which transitioned to digital platforms in 2014 to improve efficiency and ensure accurate data capture through biometric verification. While network challenges and delays at registration centres have been reported, Nafiu said the NYSC is working on reforms to enable remote registration from home.
On corps members’ welfare, Nafiu highlighted the recent increase in allowance from N33,000 to N77,000, tied to the national minimum wage benchmark. He stressed that allowance alone should not define welfare, urging states and Places of Primary Assignment (PPAs) to provide additional support such as stipends, accommodation, and other basic needs.
Nafiu also addressed concerns over postings, noting that many corps members reject assignments in rural areas in favour of urban centres. He emphasised that deployment is based on national needs and available opportunities, not strictly on graduates’ courses of study.
“The NYSC remains committed to reducing delays, improving user experience, and ensuring a more efficient mobilisation system for Nigerian graduates,” Nafiu said, reaffirming the scheme’s dedication to national integration and evolving its processes to meet growing demands.
