The Nation Newspaper

Tag: The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)

  • Loan for corps members

    Loan for corps members

    •This is a step in the right direction

    When he assumed office in 2023, President Bola Tinubu knew he had an onerous task of winning over the youth to his side. Beyond politicking, it was obvious that a country that continues to neglect 70 per cent of its population is doomed to collapse sooner than later. This must have informed various schemes put in place to empower the young ones, the latest of which is the introduction of  N200,000 loan for serving members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The loan is meant to assist the young ones being paid N77,000 monthly stipend to settle down in their states of deployment.

    This is quite thoughtful of the Federal Government that has moved many of the corps members to far-flung areas for the national service.

    This is not the only innovative scheme for the youth. The National Education Loans Fund ((NELFUND) has been hailed by many Nigerians as one that has opened the door of quality education to the poor. By the fund, students of tertiary and technical schools are able to obtain loans for their turion fees and monthly stipend. More than 400,000 students are said to have already been enlisted from all parts of the country.

    The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) had earlier this year  put in place a N5 billion grant for student entrepreneurs. By the grant, young people in tertiary institutions who show promise of boosting national technological development are advanced funds to prove their mettle. If sustained, the scheme would boost  Nigeria’s position in the comity of nations, especially in Africa.

    It is obvious that given the level of awareness of the youth today, they would play critical roles in social, economic and political affairs in the country in the near future. It is equally in their own interest to get more involved in leadership positions as leaders of the future.

    Under the Buhari administration, the Not Too Young to Rule law was passed by the National Assembly with a view to initiating the younger ones to run for legislative and executive offices. However, this achieved very little in the 2023 general elections as most of them lacked the economic power to contest against more established politicians. It is expected that, with the support now being given by the Federal Government, more would be uplifted to be able to contest.

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    But, the Federal Government alone cannot bear the burden. States and local governments have a duty to support the scheme by encouraging the young ones economically and politically. Incentives to boost innovation and scholarships should be dispensed more generously across board, including from the private sector.

    Nigeria is lagging behind in many facets of life; it has been said that we are largely a consumption nation, rather than  a productive one. This must change.

    As countries in East and Southern Africa and other countries classified as underdeveloped in the Global South are beginning to export to the North, little goes out of Nigeria. And where we export, it is crude oil and unprocessed products.

    In a technological age, our public schools are still rooted in the stone age-classrooms that are over- crowded, teachers are ill-equipped to groom those who could compete with students of other countries, many are yet to be exposed to the use of computers. These are monumental tasks before the government.

    President Tinubu has taken steps worthy of applause. He must be encouraged to do much more as Africa looks up to Nigeria to play its part as the ‘giant of Africa’ in the same way that China and Japan are lifting Asia.

  • NYSC challenge

    NYSC challenge

    Given mounting criticisms on the continued relevance of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, the inauguration of a committee to comprehensively review its operations is a welcome development. This is especially so as the objective is to make the scheme stronger, more useful to national development and better suited to the needs of our youths.

    Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande touched the crux of the matter when he said at the inauguration ceremony that issues of corps members’ safety, infrastructural challenges and the broader question of the scheme’s relevance in an increasingly dynamic socio-economic environment are among the key concerns. But he was quick to add that these also present opportunities that demand urgent, visionary and determined efforts.

    Part of the mandate of the committee is to look into how the NYSC works, and suggest ways of making it safer, more creative and more impactful. The committee will also review current NYSC policies, talk to people and suggest changes to laws, policies and the operational modalities of the scheme.

    “The outcome of this review must align with broader national development objectives, positioning the NYSC as a strategic tool for youth empowerment and nation building,” the minister further charged the committee. These are, no doubt, high-minded goals that if realistically addressed will position the scheme to meet the challenges of the times.

    The NYSC programme was established by the Gowon administration in 1973, three years after the civil war. In view of the exigencies of that war, the programme was part of the efforts to rebuild and reconstruct Nigeria, imbuing participants with a new sense of national belonging and identity. NYSC was envisioned to promote national unity and integration, inculcate discipline, patriotism in our youths, obliterate extant prejudices thereby promoting national development.

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    By mandatorily requiring corps members to serve in cultural areas other than their own, the scheme’s target was to foster better understanding and harmony among participants as leaders of the future. In the early years of its establishment, the scheme was very popular among the youths and commanded considerable respect as fresh graduates were deployed to rural communities for their primary assignments.

    The local communities were equally appreciative of the contributions of the corps members, offering them any assistance that could enhance their stay. That uniform commanded respect and was the pride of participants. Then also, the number of participants was quite limited and made for easy and effective management.

    When the first batch of members were deployed, there were about five universities in the country. It is estimated that the first batch of participants were about 700 participants. The number has since continued to grow. And with the exponential increase in the number of universities (federal, state and private), prospective participants have grown in geometric progression. These have also brought in their wake peculiar challenges.

    Instead of the single batch, we now have about three batches and many streams due to the astronomical increase in the number of participants and attendant management constraints. The national environment has since changed with information technology, increasing civil strife and cascading insecurity across the country. Issues are not made any easier by the reluctance of employers to accept corps members in their establishments.

    Even then, the federal government has been finding it difficult to fund the scheme. It took several months for it to implement the N70,000 minimum wage approved last year for corps members. The number of universities in the country is still growing with the recent licences given to more private universities by the federal government. This will further bloat the number of participants. All these are bound to adversely affect the effective functioning of the scheme unless far- reaching measures are taken to align it to the dynamics of the times.

    That is where the recent inauguration of the review committee comes in handy. Before now, there have been calls for either a radical review of the scheme to align it with the demands of the times or have the programme scrapped outright. Attahiru Jega, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had at a lecture marking NYSC’s 50th anniversary called for drastic pruning of the number of participants or have the scheme operate on a voluntary basis.

    Jega’s position stems from rising concerns about the increasing inability of the scheme to manage the high number of graduates churned out by our universities. He seems to admit the continued relevance of the scheme but wants the number of participants pruned or make it voluntary for willing participants. That is not the only grouse against the scheme. Many have questioned the continued relevance of the programme vis-a-vis the goals it was set up to achieve, especially in view of evolving national dynamics.

    There are changes and fundamental alterations in our national life that

    interrogate the objectives for which the NYSC exists to serve. Issues of national unity, integration and the inculcation of a common sense of national identity have suffered incredible reverses in recent times. Nigerians have become more divided along the fault lines of our national order due largely to the inability of political leaders to manage our diversities.

    Not only is the country confronted by an assortment of insurgency groups, non-state actors have been having a free reign. The lure of primordialism, ethnic ascendancy and self- determination is on such a high scale that the NYSC scheme can do little to ameliorate.

    Nigeria is more divided now than ever before and the signs are palpable. So, there is a disconnect between the objectives the NYSC exists to serve and contemporary developments in our national life.

    These can be seen from the constant recourse by sections of the country to the issuance of quit orders to non-indigenes in their zones. And such quit notices, over flimsy and sometimes contrived excuses, have been coming quite regularly. They reinforce our differences and forewarn corps members serving in such areas that they are at risk because they do not belong.

    The damage such quit orders does to the psyche of corps members counters any lesson on unity and patriotism which the scheme is meant to instill in them. That is the reality of the environment in which the NYSC scheme is expected to foster national unity and integration.

    The grim reality of the danger corps members face was brought close by events following the 2011 presidential elections when more than 800 persons were killed in the northern states. Corps members were among those selectively targeted and killed because they were non- indigenes.

    Kidnapping of NYSC members for ransom while travelling to their places of posting has also been on the rise. In August 2023, eight corps members from Uyo in Akwa Ibom State travelling to Sokoto were kidnapped in Zamfara State. Some of them languished in captivity for between five and 11 months before they were released after paying millions of naira as ransom.

    Managers of the scheme have been compelled by insecurity to deny some local governments in the country the services of corps members. In some other instances like Benue State, they were withdrawn as their safety could no longer be guaranteed. All these should instruct that NYSC cannot continue in its present form.

    The programme has a serious place in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society where primordial proclivities are in ascendancy. It is still relevant to our needs but the number of participants have to be drastically pruned to align with the developmental objectives of the country. Even as the committee was charged to address the issue of funding, the fact remains that the federal government is hard put to fund the programme in view of extant economic realities.

    Pruning the number of participants should be followed up with making the exercise voluntary. It makes little sense carrying a huge programme the government cannot fund. When the Peace Corps started in the United States of America, it was a voluntary scheme. But due to changing realities and funding cuts, it pruned its membership from a peak of 15,556 in 1966 to 8,500 in 2011. According to data from its website, it currently deploys between 3,500 and 4,00 annually.

    That is the way to go for the NYSC scheme. At the current trajectory of the country, national unity, nation building and the inculcation of a common sense of belonging among our youths should be addressed from the top. Effective management of the country’s diversities, inclusion, equity and fairness to the constituents hold the aces.

    It is doubtful whether the bottom-top approach to nation building which the NYSC scheme represents can still serve that need in the face of the polarisation of the country. The leadership should show the direction through their actions.

  • Rescue or ransom payment?

    Rescue or ransom payment?

    There is still a lack of clarity about how retired Brig. Gen. Maharazu Tsiga, former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), regained his freedom after more than 50 days in captivity. He was kidnapped from his home in Katsina State on February 5. He narrated his hellish experience in captivity, saying he endured “beatings.”

     On April 3, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, reunited him with his family at a ceremony at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Abuja. Eighteen others were reunited with their families at the event. They included Amb. Gideon Yohanna, former Deputy Chief of Mission to Pretoria, South Africa, who was kidnapped in January, in Kaduna State.

     Curiously, Ribadu said nothing about the kidnappers.  Where were they? What happened to them?  These were inevitable questions that demanded answers.

     But there were no answers. He said the handover event involved “very powerful and important personalities,” adding, “We are grateful to those who made their rescue possible.” He also said  previous handovers were “a result of the work of our armed forces and other security services.”   

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    Interestingly, a “Note of Appreciation,” dated April 4, 2025, signed by Brig. Gen.  Ismaila Abdullahi (retd), surfaced online. It gave an insight into how Tsiga possibly regained his freedom.  Abdullahi said after the abduction, Tsiga’s friends and associates had created a “WhatsApp platform that we named simply “TSIGA.”  He stated that the kidnappers had demanded N400 million  as ransom. “We decided to solicit  donations on our TSIGA PLATFORM. The response was overwhelming. On this platform, we had over 300 members,” he said, adding, “I feel fulfilled as our collective efforts have finally yielded a very positive outcome.”

    This suggested that Tsiga was released after his kidnappers had collected ransom. It appeared to contradict the official narrative that he was rescued by security agents.

    However, the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen.Tukur Gusau, issued a counter-statement describing the claims by Abdullahi as “misleading” and  “disparaging.” He called the release of  his “Note of Appreciation”  “an act of mischief calculated at undermining the dedicated efforts of the military to eradicate terrorists/bandits and other criminal elements from the North West region.”  He added that it was “only fair to recognise the significant sacrifices made by these troops who have worked day and night, often at great risk to their own lives in their search for the senior officer.” The Defence Headquarters explained that “military operations comprising both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies facilitated the rescue of General Tsiga,” and described it as “a successful search and rescue effort.”

    Notably, the Defence Headquarters also said nothing about the kidnappers, which raised the same questions about  where they were and what happened to them. No answers.

    It was puzzling that Ribadu  claimed the kidnap victims had been rescued, which suggested that they were taken from their abductors. A rescue suggests physical action on the part of the rescuers. If the abductors released the captives, possibly after the payment of ransom, that can’t be strictly described as a rescue.

    Rescue or ransom payment? This question comes up routinely regarding kidnap cases in the country. The Tsiga kidnapping incident and its resolution triggered the question yet again.

  • Pie in the sky

    Pie in the sky

    For members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, adjustment in their monthly allowance to reflect inflationary trends in the economy that necessitated a new national minimum wage remains a pie in the sky. Director-General of the scheme, Brigadier-General Yush’au Ahmed, last week assured that proposed increase of the allowance to N77,000 would soon be implemented. Only he did not commit to a date for that implementation.

    The Federal Government had in September 2024 approved a raise in corps members’ monthly allowance from N33,000 to N77,000, with retroactive effect from July 2024. This was pursuant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of N70,000 as the new national minimum wage that July, subject to review every three years. Despite hyper-inflationary pressures, payment of the proposed increase in NYSC allowance is yet to begin, creating concern among corps members and their relations.

    Brigadier-General Ahmed made known that arrangements to effect the pay increase had been concluded and corps members could rest assured they would get all the benefits they’re entitled to this year. Speaking  in Abuja when he commissioned a staff bus donated by Capital Express Insurance Ltd. to NYSC, he told journalists: “Yes, they have not yet started receiving the increase in their allowance. But I tell you, all arrangements have already been concluded.” He added: “Hopefully, very soon, they will see it. I don’t just want to mention when because I believe we are almost there. Corps members will laugh very soon, that I assure you.”

    The D-G reaffirmed government’s commitment to the welfare of corps members, noting that the first item on his own policy template as well is their security and welfare. The scheme, according to him, has always been responsive to the needs of its staff and corps members, taking their wellbeing and safety seriously. It was in that regard, he said, that the bus being commissioned was donated in response to a request for increase in the number of welfare buses for staff and corps members’ use.

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    Promises are heart-warming, but they never equate to concrete actions with expectant beneficiaries. Following confirmation of the proposed pay raise by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission in September, last year, Brigadier-Gen. Ahmed in October blamed delay in implementation on non-release of funds to the scheme. If funds have now been released, further bureaucratic delay in corps members receiving the new allowance in their accounts is unjustifiable because inflation hasn’t held back on surging – subjecting corps members, like many other Nigerians, to harsh living conditions. The earliest that hardship is relieved through concrete action on pay increase, the better, because promises do not have the same effect. It is expected that implementation will factor in the outstanding arrears as government policy provides, and further delay makes those arrears unwieldy.

  • SV-NED partners NYSC to drive economic growth, job creation

    SV-NED partners NYSC to drive economic growth, job creation

    The inauguration of the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) between Silicon Valley Nigeria Economic Development (SV-NED Inc. USA/SV-NED Energy Ltd) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in collaboration with foreign investors, is set to propel Nigeria’s economic growth, skills development and job creation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Speaking during the ceremony in Abuja, HRH Queen Mother Amb. Amina Temitope Labinjo Ajayi, also known as “Mama Diaspora” and Chairman of SV-NED Inc. USA/SV-NED Energy Ltd, described the partnership as a milestone aimed at empowering Nigerian youth and fostering national unity.

    “The inauguration of this committee is a strategic step toward achieving national goals. The partnership aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, as it focuses on initiatives such as the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion Centre and affordable housing projects,” she said.

    Amb. Ajayi further reiterated the commitment of SV-NED and NYSC to providing leadership and guidance for the successful implementation of the projects, emphasising their potential to create opportunities for Nigerian youths and boost the economy.

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    The NYSC Director-General, represented by the Director of Legal Services, also highlighted the collaboration’s benefits, stating that it would extend beyond primary assignments to equip corps members with knowledge of the oil and gas sector.

    Dignitaries present at the event included Momoh Mohammed, NYSC Director of Ventures; Mr. Christopher Ogar, NYSC Director of Legal Services; Mr. Kehinde Aremu, NYSC Director of Sales; and Engr. Kamaru Busari, Director of Upstream at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

    The event also showcased housing initiatives under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, with Ajayi revealing plans to address Nigeria’s housing deficit through the construction of 10,112 housing units, as part of the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme.

    The ceremony concluded with a pledge by stakeholders to work collectively toward achieving the goals of the partnership, ensuring it serves as a model for sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.

  • NYSC lauds Radda over adequate security for corps members in Katsina

    NYSC lauds Radda over adequate security for corps members in Katsina

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has praised Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda, for enhancing infrastructure, improving working conditions, and ensuring adequate security for corps members serving in the state.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Saidu, the NYSC Katsina State Coordinator, made this commendation while addressing 774 corps members who successfully completed their service and received their discharge certificates. 

    He highlighted the state government’s hospitality and commitment to providing a safe environment for corps members.

    “The situation has greatly improved with better hospitality and infrastructure throughout the service year,” Saidu noted. 

    He also extended appreciation to traditional rulers, including the Emirs of Katsina and Daura, for their peaceful accommodation and support for the corps members.

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    Saidu congratulated the corps members for their dedication and contributions to sectors such as education, health, and agriculture during their service year. 

    He acknowledged that not all who started the service year made it to the end and called for a moment of silence for one member who lost her life during the period.

    The Coordinator advised the outgoing corps members to be good ambassadors of the NYSC and to utilize the skills gained during the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program to engage in trades as they transition out of service.

    Regarding the anticipated allowance increase, he urged the corps members to remain patient, assuring them that the government would fulfill its promise in due time.