The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has put forward a bold proposal to extend the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program from its current one-year duration to two years.
The move, he explained, is part of a broader strategy to reform the scheme, curb certificate fraud, and enhance the quality and impact of the NYSC on national development.
Dr. Alausa made the proposal during a recent visit to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, where he emphasized the urgent need to digitize the NYSC mobilization process to combat rising cases of fraudulent credentials among prospective corps members.
His remarks follow a 2024 federal investigation that uncovered a massive scandal involving nearly 23,000 Nigerians who allegedly used fake foreign university degrees to gain admission into the NYSC program.
“We must take decisive steps to protect the integrity of our education and national service systems,” the minister said. “Extending the NYSC program will not only help prevent fraud, but also give corps members the opportunity to fully engage with the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) initiative, which is vital for empowering them to become job creators, not job seekers.”
The SAED program, a core component of NYSC’s vision, is designed to equip corps members with practical, income-generating skills during their service year. Alausa believes that with more time, participants can gain deeper expertise, gain work experience, and transition into entrepreneurial ventures that support Nigeria’s economic growth.
In support of the minister’s proposal, NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle A. Nafiu, stated that the proposed two-year program would significantly enhance the scheme’s effectiveness.
“Extending the service duration would allow for a more thorough implementation of SAED, giving corps members the time they need to develop key skills and prepare for the labor market,” Nafiu said.
He also highlighted the ongoing digital reforms within the NYSC, aimed at establishing a more secure and transparent verification system to detect and prevent the use of fake academic certificates.
To further strengthen these reforms, Nafiu proposed the creation of a centralized database to monitor Nigerian students studying abroad. According to him, such a system would ensure that only graduates with verified and legitimate qualifications are mobilized into the NYSC program.
The proposal has generated considerable debate among stakeholders, with some praising the government’s focus on youth empowerment and integrity, while others question the practicality of a longer service year amid existing challenges faced by corps members.
If adopted, the reform could represent one of the most significant overhauls of the NYSC scheme since its inception in 1973.