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By Gloria Ikibah

A member of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend the Federal Government’s proposed reformsAggese to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), warning that some of the changes could weaken the scheme’s founding purpose and undermine Nigeria’s national defence strategy.

Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State and serves on the House Committees on Youth and Defence, made the appeal in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.

He argued that although reforms were necessary to keep the NYSC relevant, they should not erode the institution’s core mandate of promoting national unity and preparing young Nigerians for national service.

“Reducing NYSC to a skill acquisition training centre is not healthy for our national life”, Agbese said.

His comments come days after the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, unveiled what the Federal Government described as the first comprehensive review of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973.

The proposed reforms include restructuring the orientation camp into three phases, introducing 11 specialised career streams from which prospective corps members will make their choice during registration, strengthening skills acquisition programmes, replacing the traditional khaki uniform with locally produced attire and appointing a civilian, rather than a military officer, to head the scheme.

The proposals have sparked debate, with supporters describing them as overdue modernisation, while critics fear they could alter the character of the national service programme.

Agbese maintained that the NYSC had evolved into far more than a youth development initiative, saying it had become a strategic national institution that had repeatedly supported the country during periods of national need.

He noted that corps members had over the years played vital roles in education, healthcare, elections and emergency response, making the scheme an important component of Nigeria’s nation-building efforts.

The lawmaker also opposed plans to place the scheme under civilian leadership, arguing that the military culture embedded in the orientation programme helps instil discipline, patriotism and national consciousness among participants.

“Instilling military training in citizens is an international practice that must be sustained”, he added.

According to him, removing that element could diminish one of the NYSC’s defining features and weaken its contribution to national preparedness.

Agbese therefore called on President Tinubu to suspend implementation of the reforms and set up a broader review committee comprising security experts, lawmakers, former NYSC officials, youth organisations and other key stakeholders.

He argued that any restructuring of the scheme should be based on extensive consultation to ensure that its original objectives are preserved while addressing contemporary challenges.

Established on 22 May 1973 by the administration of Yakubu Gowon in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War, the NYSC was designed to promote reconciliation, national integration and unity by deploying graduates to states outside their places of origins

Over the past five decades, the scheme has become a key platform for cultural exchange and public service, with corps members contributing to sectors facing manpower shortages while supporting government programmes ranging from healthcare campaigns to election duties and disaster response.

Although successive governments have introduced policy adjustments over the years, the current proposals represent the most extensive attempt to reshape the NYSC since its creation, fuelling a wider national conversation about the future of one of Nigeria’s most enduring institutions.

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The Federal Government has rubbished claims that over ₦8 trillion was spent outside the 2025 budget, insisting that all public expenditures were made within Nigeria’s constitutional and legal framework.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance, the government said reports alleging that about two percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, estimated at over ₦8 trillion, was spent outside the approved budget were based on a misrepresentation of the International Monetary Fund’s, IMF, 2026 Article IV Consultation Report.

The ministry maintained that the Federal Government does not operate a “shadow budget” or spend public funds without legislative approval.

It explained that under Sections 80 to 83 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution, all public funds can only be withdrawn and spent in accordance with the Constitution and laws passed by the National Assembly. According to the ministry, government expenditure is undertaken through duly enacted Appropriation Acts, Supplementary Appropriation Acts and other statutory authorisations.

The ministry added that multi-year capital projects are implemented under existing laws and approved capital rollovers where applicable, stressing that such projects should not be interpreted as spending outside the budget.

It further argued that allegations of secret spending lacked evidence, saying anyone making such claims should identify specific projects allegedly executed without appropriation or legal authority.

“It is inaccurate to suggest that trillions of naira have been secretly spent outside legislative approval. Such allegations should have identified the specific projects purportedly executed without appropriation or legal authority and present credible evidence in support of the claim. To be meaningful, assertions of this magnitude must be supported by verifiable facts rather than conjecture,” Oyedele said.

The ministry also clarified that Nigeria’s public finance system includes statutory transfers, first-line charges and intervention mechanisms established by Acts of the National Assembly. These include statutory allocations to development commissions and agencies, revenue collection costs retained by designated agencies, separate capital budgets for some agencies and the Federal Capital Territory, special interventions for national priorities such as security and infrastructure, as well as debt servicing obligations.

According to the ministry, these expenditures are lawful, publicly disclosed and subject to oversight, audit and accountability mechanisms, although their presentation in fiscal reports may differ from their appearance in the annual Appropriation Act due to international reporting standards.

The government also rejected suggestions that the reported ₦8 trillion represented an increase in the country’s fiscal deficit, explaining that fiscal deficits are determined by the relationship between total government revenue and expenditure rather than the financing mechanism used for approved projects.

It stated that the IMF’s observations were primarily about the comprehensiveness, timing and presentation of fiscal reporting rather than the legality of government spending.

The ministry noted that President Bola Tinubu had already asked the National Assembly to harmonise multiple and overlapping budgets into a single framework while presenting the 2026 Appropriation Bill on December 19, 2025.

It added that the administration remained committed to prudent fiscal management, transparency and accountability, citing ongoing reforms in budget credibility, revenue administration, digitalisation of government financial processes and treasury management.

The statement urged Nigerians to base public debate on verified facts and an accurate understanding of the country’s fiscal framework, warning against misrepresenting technical observations as evidence of unlawful expenditure.

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The Federal Government has slammed the killing of two Nigerian nationals in South Africa, accusing security operatives and criminal elements of targeting Nigerians amid rising xenophobic violence, and warning that it may be forced to activate “all options” if the attacks continue.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government demanded immediate investigations into the killings and the prosecution of those responsible, while expressing concern over what it described as an alarming pattern of extra-judicial killings and growing hostility towards Nigerians living in South Africa.

According to the ministry, one of the victims, Emeka Charles Iroegbu, was allegedly killed on June 28 in Sunnyside, Pretoria, by officers of the Tshwane Metro Police, who reportedly subjected him to what the government described as “gruesome interrogation techniques.”

The ministry said the same police officers were also allegedly responsible for the extra-judicial killing of another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong, on April 20, noting that despite the identities of the four officers being known to the South African Police Service, no arrests had been made.

It added that another Nigerian, Musa Yunana Joe, popularly known as “Big Joe,” was also shot dead in front of his shop on June 28 in Witbank, Mpumalanga, by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

The government said the incidents occurred against the backdrop of increasing attacks on foreigners in South Africa, raising serious concerns about the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals.

It alleged that some individuals were deliberately portraying hardworking Nigerians as criminals in order to justify attacks against them.

“The continuing pattern of such terrible incidents is clearly evidence of complicity on the part of security operatives, especially officers of the Tshwane Metro Police, which raises the question of state responsibility under international law,” the statement said.

Nigeria also condemned recent comments reportedly made by a spokesperson of the South African Government, who allegedly asked Nigerians leaving South Africa because of ongoing xenophobic protests to disclose where illegal drugs were hidden.

The Ministry described the remarks as derogatory, unprofessional and capable of inciting hatred and violence against Nigerians.

It further criticised anti-immigrant groups, including March on March and Operation Dudula, accusing them of promoting violence and hate against fellow Africans and warning that their leaders could face regional and international criminal liability.

The Federal Government stressed that allegations of wrongdoing against any individual should be handled through lawful judicial processes rather than mob action or extra-judicial killings.

It called on South African authorities to urgently investigate the recent killings alongside other unresolved cases involving Nigerian victims and ensure that those responsible are prosecuted.

The government expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased and pledged to continue engaging South African authorities at the highest diplomatic level until justice is achieved.

It also advised Nigerians living in South Africa to remain calm, obey the law, stay vigilant, relocate to safer neighbourhoods where necessary, and avoid areas experiencing violent demonstrations while diplomatic efforts continue.

The ministry noted that numerous South African citizens and businesses operate freely and safely in Nigeria without harassment, arguing that South Africa has a reciprocal obligation to guarantee the safety of Nigerians legally residing in the country.

It warned that the continued targeting of Nigerians was unacceptable and stated that if the situation persisted, “all options remain on the table,” adding that some measures could be activated should what it described as “intolerance and apartheid-style behaviour” against foreigners continue.

The government, however, appealed to Nigerians at home to remain peaceful and refrain from retaliatory actions, reaffirming its commitment to dialogue and diplomacy in line with Nigeria’s foreign policy of African unity, brotherhood and solidarity.

The Ministry also disclosed that the evacuation of registered Nigerians from South Africa is ongoing.