JUST IN: TINUBU APPROVES 50,000 ADDITIONAL NYSC SLOTS TO REDUCE MOBILISATION BACKLOG IN 2026

 TINUBU APPROVES 50,000 ADDITIONAL NYSC SLOTS TO REDUCE MOBILISATION BACKLOG IN 2026

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the mobilisation of an additional 50,000 eligible Nigerian graduates into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in 2026 in a move aimed at reducing the backlog of prospective corps members awaiting national service.

The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during the commissioning of a remodelled clinic at the NYSC national headquarters. The event also marked his one year in office as the head of the scheme.

Nafiu explained that the approval was captured in the 2026 federal budget following concerns about the long waiting period experienced by many graduates before they are mobilised for the mandatory one-year national service programme. According to him, the decision reflects the Federal Government’s response to repeated calls for reforms in the mobilisation process.

He said the government recognised the growing number of graduates produced annually by Nigerian tertiary institutions and the need to create additional opportunities for them to participate in the national service scheme without unnecessary delays.

“With the approval granted by Mr President in the 2026 budget, an additional 50,000 corps members will be mobilised to address the backlog and the long waiting period faced by many prospective corps members,” Nafiu said.

The NYSC Director-General added that the scheme now plans to mobilise about 418,000 corps members in 2026, a significant increase compared with previous mobilisation figures. He noted that the expansion of the scheme reflects the rapid growth of higher institutions across the country since the programme was established.

According to him, when the NYSC scheme began operations in the early 1970s, there were fewer than a dozen corps-producing institutions in Nigeria and only about 2,364 corps members participated in the first mobilisation exercise.

Today, however, the country has more than 400 corps-producing institutions, collectively producing an estimated 600,000 graduates every year. Nafiu explained that not all graduates are mobilised annually because some receive exemptions, while others in professional fields such as medicine and law are required to complete additional professional training before they become eligible for mobilisation.

He further stated that the NYSC currently operates an automated system designed to regulate the mobilisation and deployment of corps members across the country. The system, according to him, ensures that graduates who miss mobilisation in one batch remain in the database until the existing pool of prospective corps members awaiting service has been cleared.

Nafiu also attributed some of the delays experienced by prospective corps members to institutions that fail to upload their Senate-approved graduation lists to the NYSC portal on time. He added that in some cases, graduates decline mobilisation after receiving postings to certain states.

On security concerns, the NYSC Director-General assured that the safety of corps members remains a top priority for the scheme. He said the management avoids deploying corps members to locations considered high-risk and instead assigns them to safer areas when security challenges arise.

According to him, in states facing security concerns, corps members are usually posted to state capitals or major cities where security arrangements are considered more reliable. Nafiu emphasised that the scheme remains committed to protecting corps members throughout their service year.

He noted that the responsibility to safeguard the lives of corps members is taken seriously by the NYSC management, adding that many officials in the scheme are also parents who understand the concerns of families whose children participate in the programme.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, commended Nafiu for what he described as impactful leadership during his first year in office. He said the renovation of the NYSC clinic demonstrates the leadership’s commitment to improving welfare services for both staff and corps members.

Olawande also addressed security concerns involving corps members and advised them to avoid travelling at night, urging them to take precautionary measures throughout their service year.

He added that the Federal Government is working on additional measures to strengthen the protection of corps members, including plans to improve insurance coverage for participants in the programme.

The National Youth Service Corps was established in 1973 to promote national unity and integration by deploying Nigerian graduates to states other than their state of origin for a one-year national service programme. Over the years, the scheme has continued to serve as a major platform for youth development and national integration in Nigeria.