Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, proposes extending NYSC programme to 2years

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has proposed extending the duration of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from one year to two years.

According to the minister, the proposal is part of a broader reform agenda aimed at tackling certificate fraud and improving the quality of the NYSC scheme.

This comes in the wake of a 2024 federal investigation which uncovered that nearly 23,000 Nigerians had used fake foreign degree certificates to gain entry into the NYSC program.

Alausa, during a recent visit to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, emphasized the importance of digitizing the NYSC mobilization process to help curb such fraudulent practices.

He noted that a longer service period would also allow corps members to fully benefit from the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program, equipping them with hands-on experience to become job creators rather than job seekers.

The NYSC Director-General, Olakunle Nafiu, expressed support for the Education Minister’s proposal, stating that the extension of the NYSC program would provide corps members with ample time to develop essential skills through the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program.

Nafiu further emphasized that such an initiative would help enhance the overall effectiveness of the scheme and contribute to reducing unemployment by equipping corps members with the skills needed to create jobs.

He also highlighted the importance of ongoing reforms within the NYSC, particularly the move towards a more robust digital verification system to combat the growing issue of certificate fraud.

Nafiu also proposed the creation of a comprehensive database to track Nigerian students studying abroad, ensuring that only those with legitimate qualifications can participate in the NYSC.