FG Approves 50,000 Additional Slots For 2026 NYSC Mobilisation

The Federal Government has approved an additional 50,000 slots for the 2026 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Mobilisation in response to the growing number of graduates awaiting enlistment for the national service.

The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed this in Abuja during the inauguration of the remodelled Clinic at the Scheme’s National Directorate Headquarters, in commemoration of the first anniversary of his assumption of duty as its Chief Executive.

According to a statement signed by the Scheme’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, the NYSC DG noted that the extra slots had already been captured in the Scheme’s 2026 budget.

He added that further provisions had been secured in the Federal Government’s 2027 budget cycle to improve the quality of Corps members’ kits, feeding and transportation allowances.

He said the Scheme was targeting the mobilisation of about 450,000 prospective Corps members this year while remaining mindful of their safety.

“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.

He explained that the remodelling and upgrade of the headquarters clinic was part of his administration’s initiatives aimed at improving staff welfare and efficiency.

Reviewing other accomplishments made under his leadership in the past year, Nafiu said the 2025 staff promotion exercise was conducted to enhance career progression and boost morale within the Scheme.

Nafiu added that peculiar allowances were facilitated for staff, retirement benefits were paid to disengaged personnel, and a recruitment exercise was successfully carried out to strengthen the organisation’s operational capacity.

He also disclosed that the Scheme secured the donation of a compressed natural gas (CNG) bus to enhance mobility for both staff and Corps members.

Nafiu said efforts were underway to reposition the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme through strategic partnerships.

According to him, the Scheme has partnered with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University to digitise the SAED platform.

He added that the present Management had also collaborated with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), the Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON), and other stakeholders to strengthen support for the Scheme.

In his remarks, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, who inaugurated the remodelled clinic, said the upgraded facility would improve staff welfare and enhance productivity.

Olawande assured that the Ministry of Youth Development would continue to support the Scheme in delivering greater impact for Nigerian youths.

“We are working to transform and reform the NYSC. We are doing everything possible to secure the future of our Corps members,” the minister said.

He also advised Corps members to avoid travelling at night.

“When you are travelling and it is getting late, locate the nearest military barracks, police station or NYSC office and spend the night there,” he advised.