The Minister of Education, Prof. Olatunji Alausa, has proposed the extension of the mandatory National Youth Service Corps scheme from one year to two years, as part of wider reforms to enhance national development through education.
Alausa made the call on Friday during a courtesy visit by the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, to his office in Abuja.
The minister also advocated for a robust review of the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to equip corps members with more practical and employable skills.
According to a statement shared on the NYSC’s official Facebook page, Alausa said extending the NYSC duration would deepen the impact of national service and allow corps members to contribute more meaningfully to the country’s development, especially in rural communities.
He said, “Let NYSC give people more opportunities to become job creators that will meet the needs of the country. The expansion of the SAED programme is key in this regard.”
The minister further recommended the targeted deployment of graduate teachers to underserved rural areas, describing it as a necessary step to address the critical manpower shortage in remote schools.
He commended the NYSC leadership for digitising its mobilisation process, especially efforts to curb certificate racketeering among foreign-trained Nigerian graduates, particularly in West African countries.
Alausa also praised the Corps for resolving long-standing issues concerning part-time Ordinary National Diploma holders with full-time Higher National Diplomas who were previously excluded from national service.
In a broader policy direction, Alausa said the ministry was working to digitise the verification process for foreign-trained graduates of Nigerian origin, adding that both the Ministry and the NYSC would strengthen collaboration to improve the education sector for national growth.
In his remarks, Brig-Gen Nafiu expressed support for the ministry’s reform efforts and called for the creation of a database to track Nigerian youths studying abroad.
He noted that such a move would help the government verify the credibility of foreign academic qualifications and reduce the incidence of fake graduates.
“The NYSC is ready to comply with government directives. We are reforming the Scheme to meet current national needs,” he assured.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, also pledged continued cooperation with the NYSC to raise educational standards across the country.
The NYSC scheme, established in 1973, is a one-year mandatory service for Nigerian graduates under 30. Any proposed extension to two years would require legislative approval and a national policy review.
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