Corps Members Deserve More: NYSC Pushes Employers to Step Up

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has once again reiterated its call on corps employers across Nigeria to show greater commitment to the welfare and professional integration of corps members under their charge.

This appeal came from the Director General of the Scheme, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, during the 2025 NYSC/Corps Employers’ Workshop held recently in Bauchi State.

The DG, represented by the Director of the Northeast Area Office 1, Bauchi, Mrs. Agatha Banki, emphasized the critical need for corps employers to actively participate in the onboarding process of corps members.

This includes either personally picking up corps members from orientation camps or, in cases where this is not feasible, refunding their transportation expenses.

According to the DG, this gesture not only reflects a responsible attitude toward national service but also contributes to a positive first impression and sense of belonging for the corps members in their new environment.

Beyond the matter of transport logistics, the DG called attention to broader responsibilities expected of corps employers. These include the provision of decent accommodation or payment in lieu, transportation allowance, access to healthcare services on par with regular staff, and a conducive work environment. These provisions, he argued, are not merely acts of kindness but fundamental expectations that can significantly impact corps members’ morale and service delivery.

“From addressing grey areas to enhancing healthy relationships between our various organisations, the workshops always produce ideas and recommendations that are factored into the operations of the Scheme,” the DG noted.

He expressed optimism that the 2025 edition of the workshop would generate impactful resolutions.

The annual workshop serves as a strategic platform for synergy between NYSC and employers of labour across all sectors.

It provides an avenue for exchanging ideas, identifying challenges, and jointly crafting practical solutions to improve the national service experience for both the corps members and their host organizations.

The DG urged stakeholders to go beyond lip service and work toward institutionalizing effective communication channels, well-defined expectations, and clear implementation frameworks.

These, he said, are essential in transforming the NYSC scheme from a yearly routine into a dynamic catalyst for national development.

He concluded with a call to action:

“You must hammer out more effective formats of communication among our organisations and come up with implementable solutions to the numerous problems that challenge corps administration… I call on you to make individual and collective contributions in shaping the nation-building efforts of the corps members.”

Earlier, the NYSC Coordinator in Bauchi State, Mr. Umoren Kufre, described the workshop as a timely and strategic engagement.

He highlighted the indispensable role corps employers play in helping the NYSC fulfill its mandate of national integration, skills development, and youth empowerment.

“Strengthening our partnership is not merely a desirable goal but a necessity for fostering empowerment, innovation, and social responsibility,” Kufre stated.

He added that only through intentional and cooperative engagement between the scheme and employers can Nigeria fully harness the potential of its teeming youth population.

The theme of the 2025 workshop, “Strengthening NYSC/Corps Employers’ Partnership for Improved Mutual Benefit,” underscores the urgent need for stakeholders to deepen their commitment to mutual support.

The corps members are not only temporary employees; they are young citizens undergoing an important rite of passage in service to the country.

Their experience during the one-year program often shapes their perception of nationhood, civic responsibility, and professional ethics.

Therefore, employers, whether in government, private, or nonprofit sectors, must rise to the occasion by treating corps members as partners in progress rather than expendable labour.

A supportive workplace enhances productivity, encourages loyalty, and contributes to building the next generation of committed professionals and responsible citizens.

In sum, the call by the NYSC leadership is a timely reminder that nation-building is a collective effort.

It requires intentional investment, humane treatment, and strategic collaboration between all parties involved. The corps members are doing their part, employers must do theirs.

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