The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has become an increasingly outdated program, and it is now clear that its continued operation is no longer serving the original purpose it was set up to achieve. In recent years, the program has faced mounting criticism, with many Nigerians calling for a complete overhaul to make it more relevant and impactful for the country’s youths.
The Federal Government has responded to these concerns by setting up a committee tasked with executing significant reforms to the scheme. The goal, according to the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, is to strengthen the program and address key issues such as the safety of corps members, infrastructural challenges, and its overall relevance in today’s socio-economic environment.
The most pressing concern, and perhaps the most alarming, is the safety of corps members. Over the years, many have fallen victim to violence, kidnapping, and deadly accidents during their service year. In August 2023, eight prospective corps members were kidnapped on the Funtua-Gusau Road in Zamfara State while traveling from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Sokoto for their service. Some of the victims were held in captivity for almost a year before being rescued in August 2024. In a similar incident in 2021, five corps members from Akwa Ibom died in a car accident en route to the orientation camp in Katsina. Additionally, in March 2016, Okonta Dumebi, a corps member on election duty, was shot dead by hoodlums during the Rivers State rerun legislative election.
Compounding these safety issues is the pittance of an allowance that corps members receive. In July 2024, the President approved a hike in the monthly allowance from N33,000 to N77,000, but this increase only took effect in March 2025. Given the skyrocketing inflation in Nigeria, the new allowance remains insufficient, making it difficult for corps members to meet their basic needs.
Another issue is the frequent rejection corps members face at their posted places of assignment. In some cases, they are forced to search for alternative locations for their service, which leads to unnecessary delays and uncertainty. There have also been incidents of abuse, such as in 2021, when a female soldier, Chika Anele, was reported to have assaulted a female corps member, Fidelia Ezeiruaku, in Calabar over a dispute related to food.
The NYSC scheme was established in 1973 by Decree No. 24 during the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon, with the aim of fostering national unity and promoting the reconciliation and rebuilding of Nigeria following the Civil War. Since its inception, over 5.5 million graduates have participated in the program, with approximately 350,000 to 400,000 corps members mobilized annually. However, the goals of unity and national integration that the NYSC was originally meant to promote have largely been undermined. Ethnicity and nepotism have often shaped the political landscape, fostering division rather than cohesion.
Many Nigerians are now calling for the outright scrapping of the NYSC, while others believe that the program should be restructured to align better with contemporary needs. Some graduates have used the service year as an opportunity to discover themselves and prepare for life after school, but these benefits are increasingly overshadowed by the challenges associated with the program.
A more pragmatic approach would be to make the NYSC voluntary, allowing individuals to choose whether they wish to participate or serve in locations closer to their homes. The funds allocated to the scheme could be better used to support initiatives that help graduates build businesses, learn practical skills, or pursue other opportunities that can contribute more effectively to their long-term success.
Ultimately, forcing unity upon a people divided by numerous socio-political factors is unrealistic. It is time for the Nigerian government to re-evaluate the necessity of the NYSC and consider whether its continued existence truly benefits the nation. The youth of today deserve a program that prepares them for the future and helps them thrive, not one that falls short of expectations and exposes them to unnecessary risks. It is time for a change.
