The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Oluseye Nafiu, has urged the Scheme’s legal officers to uphold integrity and ensure strict compliance with the provisions of Nigeria’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in the discharge of their duties.
According to an official statement signed by the Director, Information and Public Relations of the NYSC, Caroline Embu, the Director-General gave the charge while declaring open the 2026 NYSC Legal Officers Capacity Enhancement Training on the Freedom of Information Act and the Cybercrimes Act at Bolingo Hotel, Abuja.
General Nafiu described the Freedom of Information Act as a critical instrument in public administration, noting that it mandates public institutions to provide members of the public with access to information upon request.
He said the workshop, themed “Building Institutional Resilience Through Legal Excellence and Digital Compliance,” was timely, as it highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business.
The NYSC Director-General noted that issues relating to data management have become increasingly sensitive, adding that the Scheme frequently receives requests from employers and other organisations seeking sensitive information on former Corps Members.
He stressed that such requests require legal officers to have a sound understanding of the regulatory framework of the Freedom of Information Act in order to determine what information can be lawfully disclosed.
Nafiu therefore urged the participants to continue providing sound legal advice and professional interpretation of the law to the NYSC management in line with extant regulations.
In his welcome address, the Director of Legal Services, Barrister Christopher Ogar, said the training became necessary in view of rising cybersecurity threats and rapid technological advancement, which require legal officers to remain proactive, knowledgeable and responsive.
He explained that the NYSC operates within a dynamic legal and administrative environment, making the responsibilities of legal officers extend beyond providing legal advice to include ensuring compliance with existing laws, managing litigation, drafting legal documents and promoting accountability in the Scheme’s operations.
Ogar added that the training would equip participants with knowledge on the Freedom of Information Act, cybercrime, data privacy and other emerging legal issues to enhance service delivery.
He noted that under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, Corps Members and their parents have the right to request information relating to NYSC operations, making it imperative for legal officers to understand what information can be released, what is exempt from disclosure and the timelines prescribed by law.
He also urged participants to develop the capacity to identify and preserve evidence in cybercrime cases involving Corps Members and effectively apply relevant legal principles throughout the NYSC service cycle, from registration to passing-out.
Resource persons for the training were drawn from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Federal Ministry of Justice and private data analysis organisations.
