By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved an additional 50,000 mobilisation slots for the 2026 service year of the National Youth Service Corps in response to the growing number of graduates awaiting enlistment into the national service scheme.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed this in Abuja during the inauguration of a remodelled clinic at the Scheme’s National Directorate Headquarters, held to commemorate the first anniversary of his assumption of office.
Details of the development were contained in a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations of the NYSC, Caroline Embu.
According to the Director-General, the newly approved slots have already been captured in the Scheme’s 2026 budget, while additional provisions have also been made in the Federal Government’s 2027 budget cycle to improve the welfare of corps members, particularly in the areas of kits, feeding and transportation allowances.
General Nafiu revealed that the Scheme is targeting the mobilisation of about 450,000 prospective corps members in 2026 while maintaining strict attention to their safety during deployment.
“This year, we are mobilising about 450,000 prospective Corps members and, as much as possible, we avoid deploying them to red zones. We remain mindful because we owe parents the responsibility of safeguarding the lives of their children,” he said.
The NYSC boss expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their sustained interest in the Scheme and commended the support received from governments at various levels.
He also acknowledged the contributions of his predecessor, Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed, as well as the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, for facilitating presidential approval of the new ₦77,000 monthly allowance for corps members.
General Nafiu explained that the remodelling and upgrade of the NYSC headquarters clinic formed part of broader initiatives by his administration to improve staff welfare and operational efficiency within the organisation.
Highlighting other achievements recorded within the past year, he said the 2025 staff promotion exercise was successfully conducted to enhance career development and morale among employees of the Scheme.
He added that peculiar allowances were facilitated for staff, retirement benefits were paid to disengaged personnel, and a recruitment exercise was carried out to strengthen the operational capacity of the organisation.
The NYSC also secured the donation of a compressed natural gas (CNG) bus to improve mobility for staff and corps members.
General Nafiu noted that his administration had maintained industrial harmony through an open-door leadership approach while pursuing reforms to strengthen the Scheme’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.
According to him, the NYSC has partnered with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University to digitise the SAED platform, while also collaborating with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria to deepen institutional support for the Scheme.
“We will continue to strengthen infrastructure, deepen youth empowerment initiatives, enhance welfare and security, and uphold the ideals of fairness, unity and national service that define the NYSC,” Nafiu said.
In his remarks, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who inaugurated the remodelled clinic, said the upgraded facility would improve staff welfare and enhance productivity within the organisation.
He described General Nafiu as a hardworking Director-General whose initiatives had already yielded notable results within a short period in office and commended his welfare-driven leadership.
The minister also assured that the Ministry of Youth Development would continue to support the NYSC in delivering greater impact for Nigerian youths across the country.
While advising corps members on safety, Olawande cautioned against travelling at night, urging them to seek shelter at the nearest military barracks, police station or NYSC office whenever they are unable to complete their journeys before nightfall.
