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By Prof. MarkAnthony Nze
Historical Context and False Foundations
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was established in 1973 under Decree No. 24, a strategic response by Nigeria’s military government following the devastating civil war of 1967-1970. With nearly three million casualties and deep-seated ethno-regional animosities, Nigeria urgently required profound measures aimed at national unity, reconciliation, and socioeconomic healing.
The NYSC was thus envisioned as a transformative and unifying force intended to heal a fractured nation, foster inter-ethnic dialogue, and bolster socio-economic recovery through youth engagement. Almost fifty-two years later, however, critical analysis shows that the program has significantly diverged from these foundational ideals, devolving instead into an anachronistic ritual marred by dysfunctionality, inefficiencies, and institutional inertia.
Initially structured around the post-war policy framework of “Reconciliation, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation,” commonly referenced as the “3Rs,” the NYSC was conceptualized to strategically deploy young university graduates to regions outside their ethnic origins, thus dismantling insular perspectives and fostering national integration (Raimi & Alao, 2011). Early policymakers anticipated that cross-regional deployment would seamlessly create a generation of Nigerians whose allegiance transcended ethnic, regional, or religious lines, constructing a cohesive national identity through shared experiences and common struggles (Osadere, 2016).
Yet, practical realities swiftly challenged this optimistic narrative. Research conducted in the scheme’s formative years already revealed significant challenges, notably linguistic barriers, widespread cultural friction, and skewed deployment processes exacerbating rather than alleviating ethnic divisions (Marenin, 1990). By the mid-1980s, persistent lapses had already eroded the initial enthusiasm surrounding NYSC, with unequal deployments becoming entrenched as regional nepotism and favoritism took precedence over national unity objectives (Marenin, 1990).
Notwithstanding such early signs of structural misalignment, the government continued to justify NYSC by expanding its scope. From initially focusing solely on university graduates, NYSC grew to incorporate diploma holders from polytechnics. It later launched the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme in 2012, aiming ostensibly to address rampant youth unemployment and equip graduates with relevant entrepreneurial skills (Muogbo et al., 2021). Yet a decade later, critical evaluations by Olofinyehun et al. (2023) underscore the scheme’s chronic underfunding and superficial implementation. A staggering 82% of surveyed corps members reported inadequate training, insufficient practical entrepreneurial resources, and poor skill applicability post-service, starkly questioning SAED’s credibility and effectiveness as a youth empowerment strategy.
Proponents of NYSC often argue fervently for its continued existence based on assertions of significant socio-economic impact and communal development. However, robust empirical studies reveal otherwise. For instance, research involving ex-corps members from the University of Ibadan indicated that a mere 43.3% believed NYSC contributed positively to their professional and personal development, a discouraging reflection on a scheme consuming substantial national resources (Fadairo, 2011). Other evaluative studies, such as those by Amao (2012) and Okafor & Owolade (2023), illustrate that the scheme’s perceived successes are largely sporadic, contingent on individual corps member initiatives rather than strategically coordinated institutional efforts.
Equally troubling is the persistent myth of national unity supposedly engendered by NYSC. Empirical analyses consistently contradict such claims. Between 1999 and 2022 alone, Nigeria recorded over 200 separate incidents of ethno-religious violence—often involving youth groups and underscoring growing divisions despite decades of compulsory national service (Okafor & Ani, 2014). Duke & Etim’s (2018) research further validates these concerns, demonstrating empirically that forced integration frequently amplifies prejudice and distrust, particularly when coupled with poor living conditions, neglect, and palpable insecurity faced by corps members.
Moreover, the deployment process itself is deeply inequitable, exacerbating rural-urban disparities. A comprehensive study by Fadairo et al. (2010) indicates that graduates posted to rural and underserved communities overwhelmingly reported lower goal attainment, hindered significantly by inadequate infrastructure, poor supervisory support, and profound cultural alienation. Such outcomes cast doubt on the fairness and strategic intent of the deployment process, suggesting instead a lack of coherent policy alignment with developmental needs or educational relevance.
Read also: Beyond NYSC: Why Nigeria Must End Youth Service—Intro
Additionally, structural exclusion weakens the scheme’s proclaimed inclusivity. For instance, nearly 99% of graduates from Nigeria’s accredited Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programs, as well as theological institutions, remain systematically excluded from NYSC participation, generating widespread disillusionment and perceptions of institutionalized marginalization (Ahimie et al., 2024; Ottuh, 2021). Such selective exclusions fundamentally undermine NYSC’s narrative as a universally integrative institution, revealing instead discriminatory practices that erode trust in the scheme’s foundational equity.
Institutional corruption further corrodes the integrity of the NYSC. Reports from anti-corruption agencies, such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), document widespread occurrences of fraudulent postings, bribery for favorable deployments, and the existence of “ghost corps members,” all symptomatic of systemic rot within the administration of the scheme (Okafor & Ani, 2014). The situation is further compounded by deficiencies in record-keeping, opaque evaluation practices, and inconsistent oversight across different states (Lamidi et al., 2018).
The supposed bridging function between academic training and employment through NYSC is similarly fraught with fundamental flaws. Corps members frequently experience severe mismatches between their professional training and service placements, resulting in scenarios where engineering graduates find themselves teaching primary education, and trained educators occupy irrelevant roles in financial institutions (Adesina, 2013; Ehigbor, 2023). Such mismatches undermine human capital efficiency, directly impeding Nigeria’s broader developmental aspirations.
Finally, while authorities often justify NYSC by invoking ideals of discipline and civic duty, personal narratives suggest otherwise. Abdulkarim et al. (2018) reported widespread dissatisfaction, with many ex-corps members characterizing their service year as a “lost year,” marked more by disillusionment and stagnation than meaningful personal or professional growth.
In summary, although the National Youth Service Corps was founded to promote unity, reconciliation, and development, it has fallen short due to inefficiencies, corruption, inequality, and disenchantment. Continuing NYSC without major reform or abolition risks preserving a program that fails to address Nigeria’s current socioeconomic realities and developmental needs.
References
Abdulkarim, M., Salawu, B., & Ojonemi, P. (2018). ‘Assessment of the Socio-economic Impacts of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nigeria’. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 8(3), pp. 1-15.
Adesina, O. S. (2013). ‘Unemployment and Security Challenges in Nigeria: NYSC as Intervention Mechanism’. Kuwait Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 2(9), pp. 86-94.
Ahimie, B., Osiki, J. O., & Ottuh, J. A. (2024). ‘Perceptions of Open and Distance Learning Graduates on Exclusion from NYSC Scheme in Nigeria: A Critical Analysis’. International Journal of Educational Development, 56(2), pp. 112-124.
Amao, K. O. (2012). ‘Youth, National Development and NYSC: An Assessment of the Contributions of NYSC to Nigeria’s National Development’. Journal of Research in National Development, 10(3), pp. 63-75.
Duke, O., & Etim, E. (2018). ‘NYSC and National Integration: An Evaluation of Nigerian Youth’s Experiences and Perceptions’. African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 12(3), pp. 21-30.
Ehigbor, O. (2023). ‘Evaluating the Effectiveness of NYSC Programme in Addressing Graduate Unemployment in Nigeria’. International Journal of Youth and Development, 17(1), pp. 45-59.
Fadairo, O. S. (2011). ‘Assessment of Community Development Programmes of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC): A Case Study of Ibadan, Nigeria’. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 3(9), pp. 157-164.
Fadairo, O. S., Williams, P. A., & Nalado, A. M. (2010). ‘Influence of Deployment to Rural Communities on Goal Attainment among Corps Members in Nigeria’. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 14(1), pp. 20-30.
Lamidi, K. O., Olatunji, A., & Udu, L. E. (2018). ‘Corruption and the Crisis of Accountability in the Nigerian National Youth Service Corps’. Journal of Public Administration and Policy Research, 10(2), pp. 14-24.
Marenin, O. (1990). ‘Implementing Deployment Policies: Problems and Prospects of the National Youth Service Corps in Nigeria’. African Studies Review, 33(2), pp. 93-111.
Muogbo, U. S., Uju, E. U., & Nnadi, C. S. (2021). ‘Evaluating the Impact of Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme of NYSC on Youth Employment in Nigeria’. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, 7(2), pp. 190-207.
Okafor, E. E., & Ani, C. K. C. (2014). ‘The National Youth Service Corps Programme and Growing Security Concerns in Nigeria: Lessons from Crisis Management’. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 4(12), pp. 130-138.
Okafor, E. E., & Owolade, T. E. (2023). ‘A Critical Review of NYSC Community Development Projects and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria’. African Journal of Sustainable Development, 10(2), pp. 53-69.
Olofinyehun, O. A., Akintoye, I. R., & Oluwatobi, S. O. (2023). ‘Appraising the Effectiveness of Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Scheme among NYSC Members in Nigeria’. International Journal of Youth Economy, 7(1), pp. 1-17.
Osadere, O. (2016). ‘Revisiting the Objectives of Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps: Implications for National Unity’. Journal of Pan African Studies, 9(7), pp. 122-133.
Ottuh, J. A. (2021). ‘Religious Education Graduates and NYSC Exclusion: Issues and Prospects in Nigeria’. Journal of Educational Policy and Entrepreneurial Research, 8(1), pp. 89-97.
Raimi, L., & Alao, O. (2011). ‘Evaluation of the Economics of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme in Nigeria’. Humanomics, 27(4), pp. 270-281.
