Education Minister proposes two-year NYSC service duration
National Youth Service Corps NYSC
Abdullateef Fowewe
The National Youth Service Corps has disclosed that the Minister for Education, Tunji Alausa, proposes the extension of the scheme’s duration to two years.
NYSC, in a statement on Saturday, by its Public Relations Director, Caroline Embu, talks about its ongoing reform efforts to tackle certificate racketeering.
The NYSC Director-General, Olakunle Nafiu, visited Alausa, in Abuja on Friday.
In 2024, a federal probe revealed that about 22,789 Nigerians were parading fake foreign degree certificates, which were then used to enrol for the NYSC scheme.
Nigeria, in 2024, initiated probes and sweeping reforms to block certificate rackets exploiting the system as a result.
However, Alausa said actions have been taken and efforts are ongoing in the Ministry of Education to digitise the verification of foreign-trained graduates of Nigerian origin, noting that the ministry and NYSC would further bolster their alliance towards the improvement of education for national development.
Alausa praised the NYSC for digitising the mobilisation process to curb certificate racketeering.
Nonetheless, the Minister, per the NYSC program, advocated for the extension of national service from one to two years, stressing that would enable the expansion of the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) training programme content for corps members.
Speaking with the NYSC DG, Alausa said, “You have done so well as an organisation.
“Let NYSC give people more opportunity to become job creators that will meet the needs of the country.”
In response the DG, said the scheme is ready to comply with policy guidelines as directed by the Federal Government, adding “We are also trying to reform the scheme to conform with the present national needs.”
The DG advicated for the establishment of a database of Nigerian youths going abroad to study for degree programmes, noting that it would help the government have detailed records of Nigerians studying abroad and also eliminate fake graduates.
