The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has proposed a significant change to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, suggesting that the scheme be extended from its current one-year duration to two years. According to him, this move is aimed at strengthening the NYSC framework, combating certificate fraud, and improving its contribution to national development.
Dr. Alausa made this known during a recent visit to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, where he also emphasized the need to digitize the NYSC mobilization process. He noted that there has been an alarming increase in the use of fraudulent credentials among prospective corps members. His remarks come in the wake of a federal investigation in 2024, which revealed that nearly 23,000 Nigerians allegedly used fake foreign university degrees to secure NYSC mobilization.
He explained that extending the service duration would not only help in curbing fraud but would also allow corps members to take full advantage of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program. The SAED initiative, which is a key part of NYSC’s mission, is designed to empower corps members with income-generating skills that can help them become employers of labor rather than job seekers. With additional time, the minister believes participants can gain more practical experience, deepen their entrepreneurial abilities, and support Nigeria’s economic growth more effectively.
NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle A. Nafiu, expressed support for the proposal, stating that a two-year service period would improve the depth and outcome of the SAED program. He said corps members would have a better opportunity to acquire relevant skills and be better prepared for the realities of the labor market. Nafiu also highlighted that the NYSC is already undergoing digital reforms to create a transparent and secure verification system that would detect and prevent the presentation of fake academic certificates.
In addition to the digitization efforts, Nafiu proposed the establishment of a centralized database to monitor Nigerian students studying abroad. According to him, this would ensure that only those with genuine and verified qualifications are considered for NYSC mobilization.
The proposal has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians. While some commend the government’s effort to preserve the integrity of the national service scheme and focus on youth development, others have raised concerns over the practicality of an extended service year, especially given the financial and welfare challenges already faced by many corps members.
If implemented, this reform would mark one of the most far-reaching changes to the NYSC since its establishment in 1973.