By Nkechi Eze
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria in providing free legal services and access to justice for underprivileged and indigent Nigerians across the country.
This reaffirmation came when the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, hosted the Director General of the Legal Aid Council, Mr. Aliyu Bagudu Abubakar, and his management team during a courtesy visit to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations of the NYSC, Mrs. Caroline Embu, General Nafiu commended Mr. Abubakar for his exceptional administrative leadership in steering the Legal Aid Council for two successive tenures, describing his consistency as a testament to his commitment to justice and public service.
The NYSC helmsman lauded the partnership between the Corps Lawyers and their senior counterparts in the Council, noting that the collaboration has significantly boosted the confidence and competence of Corps members deployed to provide legal aid services nationwide.
“The collaboration between Corps Lawyers and their experienced practising counterparts has instilled confidence in them and enhanced their performances,” General Nafiu stated.
He further emphasized that at the inter-agency level, the synergy between both federal institutions has been fruitful and impactful, as NYSC continues to provide qualified manpower to support the Legal Aid Council’s mandate of rendering free legal services, while the Council, in turn, offers Corps Lawyers a valuable platform to gain professional experience and practical exposure.
“In addition to what the Corps Lawyers are doing, the NYSC remains committed to serving the nation as it has done faithfully for the past fifty-two years,” the NYSC DG affirmed, assuring that the scheme would continue to align its programmes with initiatives that promote social justice and national development.
Responding to the request made by the Legal Aid Council DG, General Nafiu said the NYSC was fully committed to strengthening and expanding the existing collaboration, adding that the Council’s proposal would be studied carefully with a view to implementing measures that will serve the greater good of society.
“We are committed to strengthening and deepening the existing relationship. We will study your proposal and see how we can use it to the benefit of the larger society. Nigeria is ours; Nigeria we serve,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Aliyu Bagudu Abubakar applauded the NYSC for its consistent support in advancing the Council’s mission of ensuring access to justice for the less privileged. He requested the deployment of more Corps Lawyers to courts within the Federal Capital Territory to enable the Council to kickstart its pilot project of attaching Legal Aid groups to each court in Abuja.
He explained that the project was part of broader efforts to enhance the Council’s capacity to deliver free legal representation and support for indigent Nigerians, noting that manpower shortages, particularly in state offices, have posed challenges to the effective discharge of its duties.
The Legal Aid Council boss underscored that the NYSC’s nationwide spread provides a unique opportunity to complement the Council’s efforts, as Corps Lawyers stationed across Nigeria can assist in representing the voiceless and ensuring that justice is served without financial barriers.
Mr. Abubakar further recalled that the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, established in 1976, was originally mandated to provide free legal services to indigent citizens but had its scope expanded in 2011 to cover wider areas of human rights protection and justice delivery.
He expressed optimism that the continued collaboration with the NYSC will not only address the Council’s manpower gaps but also deepen access to justice for millions of Nigerians who otherwise would not be able to afford legal representation.
The renewed collaboration between the NYSC and the Legal Aid Council thus reaffirms the federal government’s broader vision of promoting inclusivity, equity, and justice, while equipping young Nigerian lawyers with practical experience in national service.
