More than five decades after it was established to heal the wounds of civil war and foster national unity, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is facing perhaps its greatest test. Rising insecurity, allegations of unequal treatment in postings, economic hardship and growing parental fears have triggered fresh questions about whether the scheme still serves the purpose for which it was created. In this report, YVONNE ISHOLA examines the experiences of corps members, parents and stakeholders who believe the programme is in urgent need of reform—or even abolition
Nwosu Michael graduated from a public university in the South-East, where he was born and raised. He attended his primary, secondary and tertiary education in Imo State.
For secondary school, he moved to another town, while university education took him to Enugu.
He had to involve his uncles—his father was no longer alive—to convince his mother to allow him study in the state capital.
Then came the call for national service.
For a year, Michael’s mother prayed that he would be posted to Imo State.
Michael knew such a posting was unlikely and secretly looked forward to the adventure of serving far from home.
When the posting finally arrived, it felt like a funeral announcement.
He was posted to Plateau State.
“This was the state I prayed for with all my heart because of everything I had heard about it,” Michael said.
“But after the recent attack at Angwan Rukuba, where attackers entered an area and opened fire on innocent people going about their normal lives, I began to have a rethink.”
Michael said his mother did not want to become the next ‘Mummy Promise’, the widow who became the face of the March 29, 2026, Palm Sunday Angwan Rukuba terrorist attack in which at least 35 innocent people were killed.
Promise, her son, was among the victims.
In the aftermath, she held his bloodied, lifeless body and repeatedly insisted he could not be dead. Her grief went viral and drew reactions from around the world.
After much persuasion and several prayer vigils, Michael eventually arrived in Jos.
Fortunately, the reality he met was far different from the fears that had gripped his family.
Michael said friends posted to Yobe, Sokoto, Zamfara and Borno States had to defer their service year.
“It was more like receiving an obituary announcement,” he said, quietly.
“Their mothers cried as though the children were heading into certain danger. That is when stories emerge about the brutality of bandits, attacks on farming communities by armed herders and the deadly activities of Boko Haram.”
Similar sentiments flooded social media whenever graduates were posted to states in the North-East or to troubled areas in the Middle Belt such as Benue, Niger, Plateau and, more recently, Kaduna.
Parents lamented the country’s worsening security situation, unsafe highways, frequent kidnappings and the enormous ransoms often demanded by abductors.
The case of Mr Arum, an ex-student of the University of Jos abducted while travelling to Kaduna and reportedly tortured while ransom negotiations dragged on, only heightened those fears.
Public opinion on the NYSC has become increasingly polarised. Many Nigerians still regard it as an important rite of passage.
However, a growing number of parents and graduates are calling for its cancellation or comprehensive reform due to insecurity, poor living conditions and limited employment prospects after service.
Why the NYSC was created
In the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War between 1967 and 1970, the administration of General Yakubu Gowon established the NYSC as part of efforts to rebuild trust, mutual respect and national unity among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups.
At the time, the nation remained deeply divided, particularly following the conflict that left many people in the Eastern Region distrustful of other parts of the country.
Established through Decree No. 24 of May 22, 1973, the scheme was designed “with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity.”
The mandatory one-year programme sought to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild a fractured nation.
By posting graduates to states other than their own, the government hoped to break down ethnic and cultural barriers.
Officials believed that mutual understanding and tolerance would reduce the likelihood of future conflicts and strengthen a shared national identity.
The scheme was also intended to support community development. It deployed educated young Nigerians to rural communities lacking basic infrastructure, healthcare services and educational opportunities, helping to address poverty, illiteracy and shortages of skilled manpower.
Growing concerns over equity, security
The scheme has expanded significantly since its inception. From an initial 2,364 graduates in 1973, it nowmobilises hundreds of thousands of young Nigerians annually.
Yet concerns over fairness continue to grow.
“The current situation, where only the children of average and poor Nigerians comply with postings outside their states of origin, does not augur well for the scheme,” said Larai Fagge, a prospective corps member from Jos.
“When there are sacred cows who use their influence to serve in safer locations while others undertake dangerous journeys in obedience to what NYSC stands for, the purpose is defeated.”
Mr Daniel Dariya, a Lagos-based businessman, shared similar concerns.
“Orientation camps in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt are always filled to capacity, while camps in locations perceived as unsafe struggle to attract corps members,” he said.
“The rich and powerful are favoured at the expense of children from less privileged backgrounds.”
A member of staff familiar with NYSC operations in Plateau State disclosed that out of about 2,000 corps members posted to the state, only around 1,440 eventually reported for duty.
The source attributed the shortfall partly to security concerns following the Angwan Rukuba attack, which occurred shortly before orientation camp commenced.
Miss Adams, Mr Shitnaan and Longtong Monday, corps members currently serving in Abuja, said the Federal Capital Territory orientation camp became so overcrowded that some corps members were redirected to neighbouring states.
Adams completed her orientation in Minna despite being posted to Abuja.
“The Abuja camp had more participants than it could accommodate,” she lamented.
Rashida Abdullahi revealed that she completed her orientation in Keffi for the same reason.
“This shows that influential people prefer Abuja and Lagos for their children,” said Mr Andrias Ibi.
“If the purpose of NYSC is to build national unity and understanding among cultures, but some people can manipulate postings through influence, then the programme has already failed.”
Criticisms, calls for reform
Security concerns remain one of the strongest arguments against the scheme.
Fifteen years ago, 10 corps members were killed during post-election violence in Bauchi State.
During the 2019 elections, several corps members serving as ad hoc electoral staff also lost their lives.
Ibrahim Okanagan died in a boat mishap on March 10, 2019, while returning with election results.
Ibisaki Amachree was killed during the presidential election in Rivers State.
Corps members in Anambra State were also attacked by gunmen following election assignments.
Recently, INEC official Mr Joash Amupitan disclosed that 1,414,768 NYSC members would be deployed for the 2027 elections.
However, with insecurity continuing to worsen, many parents are asking whether adequate protection can be guaranteed.
“Until we are assured of sufficient security and equipment capable of confronting terrorists, it is unwise to expose these young adults to such risks,” one parent said.
Only days ago, four corps members died in an auto crash along the Song Local Government Area axis of Adamawa State.
Two of the victims were indigenes of Kaduna State who had been posted to Adamawa for service.
The Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (PTAN) has repeatedly called for the scheme to be scrapped if government cannot guarantee the safety of participants.
Retired police officer, Nianyir Piringkwap, was emphatic in his position.
“There is no way I will allow my son or daughter to serve in a volatile state,” he said.
“Everyone is using connections to secure safer postings for their children. I will do the same. I do not want my children travelling long distances because of the dangers on our roads.”
Peter Amine, a senior reporter with the News Agency of Nigeria, agreed.
“If my child is posted to an unsafe state, I will do everything within my power to secure a redeployment,” he said.
“You can only serve your nation if you are alive.”
Many parents also argue that NYSC places too much responsibility for personal safety on young graduates unfamiliar with their host communities.
Economic realities have further fuelled dissatisfaction.
Despite recent increases, many believe the monthly allowance remains inadequate given Nigeria’s rising cost of living.
Only a few states provide additional financial incentives to corps members.
Critics argue that a year spent in national service often does little to improve employment prospects.
“If not for the monthly stipend and the uncertainty in the labour market, many young people would simply seek exemption,” Piringkwap said.
Mrs Hezekiah and Anya Agwom argued that the year could be better utilised in vocational training and entrepreneurship programmes.
Others, including Mallam Usman Gidado, believe young Nigerians would benefit more from structured military and self-defence training given the country’s security challenges.
Case for retaining the scheme
Despite its shortcomings, supporters insist that NYSC remains one of the few national institutions actively promoting integration and cultural exchange.
Mr Emeka, an Igbo man who served in Kalong, Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State, became deeply integrated into his host community.
He established a thriving farm, married a local woman and left with lifelong friendships and business opportunities.
Plateau State also has several notable examples of former corps members who built successful lives after service.
Dr Fish, owner of a multi-million-naira business, first arrived in the state as a corps member.
The founder of Lamed Pharmaceuticals, one of Plateau State’s largest pharmaceutical companies, is also widely believed to have come through the same route.
Popular event planner, Toslad, reportedly began his journey in Jos during his service year.
Each discovered opportunities in a city known for its favourable climate and hospitable people, eventually making Plateau their second home.
Some stakeholders now advocate making the programme voluntary, allowing graduates to decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks and time commitment.
Recently, PTAN National President, Haruna Danjuma, joined growing calls for the Federal Government to abolish the scheme altogether.
For many young Nigerians like Michael, however, NYSC remains a leap of faith—caught between the noble ideal of national unity and the harsh realities of insecurity, inequality and uncertainty in contemporary Nigeria.