Protecting NYSC Corps Members: A Call For Urgent Government Action And Collective Responsibility

By: ALABI Qozim Diekola (MCPN)

2nd October, 2026.

Introduction

The safety and welfare of Nigerian youths must remain a national priority. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme was established to promote national unity, patriotism, discipline and national development by bringing graduates from different parts of the country together to serve their fatherland.

However, growing insecurity in several parts of Nigeria, including kidnapping, abduction, armed attacks and road accidents, has raised serious concerns about the safety of corps members travelling to their places of primary assignment and orientation camps.

These young graduates represent years of parental sacrifice, institutional investment and personal aspiration. Their participation in national service should not expose them to avoidable danger.

It is therefore imperative that the Federal Government, the NYSC management and heads of tertiary institutions work collaboratively to strengthen existing safety measures and ensure that national service is undertaken with due regard for human life.

A Call for Collective Action by Heads of Tertiary Institutions

I respectfully call on all heads of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, including vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts and registrars, to unite in advocating practical reforms that will protect graduates during mobilisation, transportation, deployment and service.

Our institutions should not regard their responsibilities as ending with graduation. Through their governing councils, management teams and relevant professional associations, they can contribute meaningfully to policies that safeguard their graduates.

I therefore propose that heads of tertiary institutions jointly prepare and submit a formal memorandum to the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, requesting an urgent review of NYSC mobilisation and deployment procedures in response to prevailing security challenges.

Such collective engagement should involve the NYSC Directorate, relevant government ministries, security agencies, road-safety authorities and other stakeholders.

The objective should be to develop practical, coordinated and evidence-based measures that reduce the exposure of corps members to foreseeable dangers.

An Appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, (GCFR)

I respectfully appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to direct the relevant authorities to review the existing NYSC mobilisation and deployment arrangements, particularly where credible security assessments identify substantial risks to corps members.

The following measures deserve urgent consideration:

1. Alternative deployment arrangements: Corps members posted to locations where prevailing insecurity presents substantial risks should be considered for relocation or reassignment to safer locations.

2. Temporary deferment of travel: Where a route or destination is considered unsafe based on credible security information, the NYSC should consider postponing reporting or approving alternative arrangements until the situation improves.

3. Improved transportation safety: Appropriate measures should be introduced to reduce road accidents, including the use of roadworthy vehicles, qualified drivers, safer travel schedules and compliance with road-safety regulations.

4. Security information and emergency response: Corps members should receive timely, reliable security updates, clear travel guidance and accessible emergency contacts. Effective procedures should also be established for responding to reports of kidnapping, abduction, accidents and missing corps members.

5. Regular security reviews: Posting destinations and travel routes should be assessed periodically to ensure that administrative decisions reflect current security conditions.

These proposals are not intended to undermine the objectives of national service or call for its abolition. Rather, they seek to ensure that the programme remains responsive to prevailing realities while protecting the lives and welfare of its participants.

Kidnapping and abduction can cause severe physical, emotional and financial hardship for victims and their families. Road accidents can equally result in permanent injuries or loss of life. Both risks demand serious attention from the authorities responsible for corps members’ welfare.

Although individual travellers must exercise reasonable caution, responsibility for safety cannot rest solely on young graduates and their families.

The institutions and agencies organising their deployment must also adopt reasonable preventive measures, informed by reliable security intelligence and established safety standards.

A comprehensive approach should therefore combine personal safety education, appropriate transportation arrangements, effective communication and prompt emergency intervention. Families should also have access to relevant official information and designated contacts when emergencies arise.

Patriotism and national service are important values, but they should go hand in hand with the protection of human life. Nigerian graduates should be able to fulfil their national obligations without being subjected to unreasonable or preventable risks.

Where credible evidence indicates that a particular destination or journey presents a serious threat, the relevant authorities should consider appropriate alternatives rather than rely solely on routine administrative requirements.

The NYSC programme remains an important instrument for national integration and development. Strengthening its safety procedures will help preserve public confidence in the scheme and demonstrate that the country values the young people who contribute to its progress.

Conclusion
I urge all heads of tertiary institutions in Nigeria to collaborate in presenting a unified, constructive appeal to the Federal Government for urgent action on the safety of NYSC corps members.

I equally appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to direct the NYSC and relevant agencies to strengthen security assessments, improve transportation safety and adopt alternative deployment or reporting arrangements where credible threats make normal procedures unsafe.

The protection of corps members must be treated as a shared national responsibility involving government, educational institutions, security agencies, families and society at large.

Let us protect our graduates as they serve our nation. National service should promote unity, patriotism and development without exposing young Nigerians to avoidable danger. The future of our country deserves protection, and the lives of our youths must remain a priority.