The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande has kicked against the proposal to extend the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme from one to two years.
According to him, such is needless because what is needed is a more impactful and productive one-year programme.
Olawande made this known on Monday while addressing journalists after the 2025 Annual Management Conference of the NYSC held in Abuja.
His statement comes days after the Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, called for the extension of the mandatory national service to two years, during a courtesy visit by the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, to his office.
Alausa had suggested the expansion of the NYSC’s Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme as part of the proposed extended service period.
However, Olawande emphasized that the focus should not be on the duration of service but on its relevance and impact. He called for the introduction of a National Internship Scheme to better prepare corps members for employment or entrepreneurship after completing their service year.
He criticized the current perception of NYSC, noting that many corps members go through the programme simply to fulfil the requirement, without acquiring valuable skills.
“What most corps members know about NYSC is that it’s just about serving the fatherland. So, they spend the one year without adding value to themselves or inspiring others,” he said.
According to him, equipping corps members with relevant training and certifications would make the service year more fulfilling and useful, rather than focusing on routine activities like parades during orientation camps.
“If things continue the same way, we won’t get new, impactful results. Reform is the way forward. I’m not saying NYSC isn’t doing anything right, but we can do better,” he added.
Speaking during the conference, NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu highlighted the purpose of the Annual Management Conference, stating it was designed to review the scheme’s past activities and develop strategies for better performance.
He noted that this year’s conference, themed “Transforming the NYSC Scheme to Meet the Yearnings of Contemporary Nigerian Graduates and Society,” was prompted by growing calls for reform from both graduates and the broader society.
Nafiu said the NYSC remained committed to aligning its operations with national development goals and the expectations of modern-day Nigerian youth.
