Abuja, FCT – The federal government is considering a major overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, with a proposal to extend the current one-year scheme to two years.
The suggestion was made by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Olatunji Alausa, during a meeting with the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed, at his office in Abuja.
According to a statement posted on NYSC’s official Facebook page, Dr. Alausa believes a longer service duration could significantly improve the quality of skill acquisition and better position corps members to contribute meaningfully to the country.
“Extending NYSC to two years will not only help corps members acquire valuable skills but also deepen their contribution to national growth,” the minister said.
Dr. Alausa emphasized the importance of expanding the NYSC’s Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) initiative. He stated that giving corps members more time to engage in practical, skill-based training could help them transition into job creators after their service.
He also recommended deploying more graduates to teach in rural schools, noting that this would address the shortage of qualified personnel in underserved areas and enhance educational outcomes in such communities.
The minister praised NYSC’s recent efforts in tightening the mobilisation of graduates, particularly those who studied abroad or obtained questionable credentials within West Africa. He revealed that the Ministry of Education is taking steps to digitise certificate verification to eliminate fraud.
Dr. Alausa also acknowledged NYSC’s progress in resolving issues related to the mobilisation of part-time OND holders who previously faced difficulties in the system due to HND upgrades.
Responding to the minister’s remarks, Brigadier General Ahmed welcomed the proposed changes and assured the Ministry of the NYSC’s willingness to align with federal directives.
“We are committed to adjusting the scheme to reflect national priorities. NYSC is open to reform and ready to work with the federal government to achieve set goals,” the DG stated.
He further suggested building a comprehensive database of Nigerian students abroad, saying it would help in verifying qualifications and curbing the use of fraudulent academic documents.
In support of these ideas, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to partnering closely with NYSC to improve the nation’s educational and developmental landscape.
