All you need to know about National Youth Service Corp (NYSC)

Every fresh Nigerian graduate must participate in the compulsory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) for one year. Unless you’re 30 and above at the time of graduation, the NYSC is very important if you want to avoid future career problems in Nigeria. Ask Kemi Adeosun and Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu what happened to their ministerial and other appointments because they didn’t participate in the programme.

Hence, the NYSC is often the most talked about topic among fresh Nigerian graduates at home and abroad. Students who graduated from universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education are mandated to participate in this programme before they’re released into the labour market. To know more about the NYSC, keep reading.

Table of Content hide 1What is NYSC? 2History of NYSC 3Why is NYSC important? 3.1National unity 3.2Training ground for future leaders 3.3Opens doors of opportunities 3.4Critical in the health and education sectors 3.5They help meet INEC’s staffing needs during the run-up to elections 4What happens if I don’t do NYSC? 5NYSC founder 6NYSC age limit 7NYSC salary by states 8NYSC for foreign students 8.1Requirements 8.2Registration procedure 9How to register for NYSC 10NYSC camps in Nigeria

What is NYSC?

NYSC logo

The National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) is a program set up by the Nigerian government to involve Nigerian graduates in nation-building and the country’s development. According to the NYSC official website, the scheme’s purpose is “primarily to inculcate in Nigerian Youths the spirit of selfless service to the community, and to emphasize the spirit of oneness and brotherhood of all Nigerians, irrespective of cultural or social background.”

Participants are called Corps Members, Youth Corpers or Corpers. They are also called Ajuwaya on the Nigerian streets.

History of NYSC

The Nigerian government established the NYSC on May 22, 1973, during the military regime to reconcile the country after the civil war. Ahmadu Ali was the first Director-General. According to Decree No.24, the scheme was established “with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity.”

The scheme begins with graduates spending three weeks away from their family and loved ones at a designated military-controlled boot camp, known as an orientation camp. All participants in the camp are expected to be independent, meet new people from different social backgrounds and cultures, and discover various historical and cultural aspects of the state.

At the end of the orientation camps, participants are deployed to work in various institutions in their host state for a year. After the year has expired, the participants return to the orientation camps for the passing out ceremony or parade and officially receive their certifications before returning to their respective homes.

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Why is NYSC important?

united Nigeria

Here are five reasons why NYSC is important:

National unity

The NYSC programme encourages national unity among the youths. During the programme, graduates learn patriotism and loyalty to their country and each other. Some graduates who didn’t get to explore other parts of the country can do so during the NYSC. In fact, intertribal marriage was common and highly encouraged during this time, which helped to foster unity in diversity among the Nigerian people.

Training ground for future leaders

As youths learn about different people and cultures in Nigeria, they also sharpen their leadership skills. While learning patriotism, they become better equipped to handle the country’s affairs when the opportunity comes.

Opens doors of opportunities

A valid NYSC certificate will open doors for Nigerian youths in the labour market. Most lucrative jobs in Nigeria are available only for people who have completed the compulsory national service of one year, and these jobs are mostly in governmental establishments, with a few in the private sector. With the exception of fresh graduates over 30 years and disabled people, a Nigerian graduate without the NYSC certificate is severely limited in terms of job opportunities.

Critical in the health and education sectors

The health and education sectors are often understaffed. However, the NYSC is an opportunity for the sectors to fill the gap they’re lacking. Graduates of these two disciplines are particularly lucky to be given the opportunity to serve and gain needed experiences while being paid. Also, rural dwellers benefit more from the scheme as most youth corps members are deployed there to serve the people in these sectors.

They help meet INEC’s staffing needs during the run-up to elections

The Independent National Elections Commission (INEC) used to struggle to hire ad hoc staff because too many volunteers had unverifiable addresses and could not be held accountable. But the body found a welcome solution by collaborating with NYSC. Corps members are hired as ad hoc staff to help during the elections.

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What happens if I don’t do NYSC?

Not participating in NYSC after graduation may limit your chances of getting good jobs. This is because many big companies, including multinationals, only employ graduates after completing their youth service as mandated by Nigerian law.

Also, getting into civil service and political appointments or even contesting for an elective position is impossible without an NYSC certificate of completion. Nigeria has seen many cases of public officers who have boycotted NYSC. Such cases ended in dismissal, forced resignation, or court cases.

A clear example is former finance minister Kemi Adeosun, who was accused of falsifying her NYSC certificate after she was found not to have participated in the scheme. Although she initially denied the allegations, she admitted to having been deceived into presenting a document she could not verify its authenticity.

NYSC founder

The NYSC was founded by then military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, in 1973. Following the end of the Nigerian Civil War, there was disunity, poverty, mass illiteracy, an acute shortage of high-skilled manpower, and inadequate facilities, among others in the country. So Gowon created the programme to foster youth unity, which will help rebuild the country.

NYSC age limit

The age limit for the National Youth Service program is 30 years.

NYSC salary by states

The federal government has approved the N33,000 allowance for corps members in line with the new minimum wage. Meanwhile, below is the list of NYSC monthly allowance for all states in Nigeria:

Abia State – N5,000
Adamawa State – No information
Akwa Ibom State – N5,000
Anambra State – N8,300 (paid in bulk)
Bauchi State – N1,250
Bayelsa State – N6,000 for those in the capital, N8,000 for those outside the capital, and N10,000 for those serving across the water
Benue State – No information
Borno State – N5,000
Cross River State – N5,000
Delta State – N5,000
Ebonyi State – stopped paying in May 2019
Edo State – No information
Ekiti State – N5,000
Enugu State – N3,800 for those in the village and N1000 for those in towns
Gombe State – No information
Imo State – N2,000
Jigawa State – N5,000
Kaduna State – N3,000
Kano State – N1,200 (pays N15,000 for one year)
Katsina State – N4,000
Kebbi State – N2,000
Kogi State – No information
Kwara State – N25,000 for medical Corps Members
Lagos State – N15,000 (sometimes N10,000) for those in the ministries, N5,000 for those in LGAs, and N20,000 for medical Corps Members
Nasarawa State – N5,000 (N30,000 paid in bulk after six months)
Niger State – No payment
Ogun State – N5,000
Ondo State – N75,000 for medical Corps Members
Osun State – N5,000
Oyo State – N5,000
Plateau State – No information
Rivers State – N15,000
Sokoto State – N5,000 for those in state government institutions and N9,000 for medical Corpers
Taraba State – 6,000
Yobe State – N5,000 for regular Corpers while Medical Corpers receive N100,000 and above
Zamfara State – N3,000
FCT Abuja – No payment

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NYSC for foreign students

Requirements

Original O’level certificate like WASC, GCE, NECO, NABTEB, IGCE, GCSE, High School Diploma or its equivalent with five (5) credits including Mathematics and English in not more than two(2) sittings.
Original Degree/HND certificate or its equivalent. Letters of attestation or To Whom It May Concern are not accepted in lieu of Degree certificate.
Original Transcript of Degree/HND Certificate or mark sheet (For Indian Universities).
International travelling passport must show the data page and date of departure for the course of study.
International passport showing data page, visa page showing date of departure for studies, date of return to Nigeria after studies. Graduates with dual Nationalities are required to upload data pages of both international passports during online registration and present the two passports at the orientation camp for evaluation.
Residence permit for the duration of the study (for ECOWAS countries)
Evaluation Letter from the Federal Ministry of Education.
Graduates who did ‘top-up’ programmes should upload Foundation course certificates like NIIT, APTECH, OND, INFORMATICS e.t.c
Working class Graduates must upload their original ADMISSION LETTERS and LETTER OF APPROVAL from their respective employers to undertake their courses.
Graduates of Medicine and other health-related courses like Nursing Science, Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, etc., must possess and upload a current-professional license. Medical graduates must present as evidence of completion of housemanship, a registration certificate with the medical and dental council of Nigeria/Optometrists Association of Nigeria. Nurses must also present the original license and registration certificate to the Nursing/Midwifery Council of Nigeria. Med Lab graduates are required to present their License and certificate of registration with Medical laboratory scientists Council of Nigeria.

Note: Graduates who are Exempted from service on the grounds of age and those whose mode of study was part-time and are excluded from service are expected to present the original credentials they uploaded for physical evaluation at NYSC Headquarters Abuja, where they will collect their Certificates of Exemption.

Registration procedure

Visit the official NYSC website and complete your application.
Register an account with an email address, and choose a passcode and Nigerian phone number.
Upload all required documents.
Wait for your call-up number and letter.
Once you receive the call-up, go to orientation camp with the original documents for your service year.

How to register for NYSC

Off to Nysc Orientation Camp

Visit NYSC Registration Portal
Create an account
Log in to your dashboard and fill out the NYSC biodata form
Upload all required documents
Thumbprint for biometrics confirmation/verification.
Submit your application
Print out your NYSC Registration slip
Wait for your call-up letter.

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NYSC camps in Nigeria

STATE	CAMP ADDRESS
ABIA	NYSC Permanent Orientation camp, Umunna, Bende Local Government Area, Abia State
ADAMAWA	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Lapondo Road, Damare, Girei Local Government Area Adamawa State
AKWA IBOM	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikot Itie Udung, Nsit Atai Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State
ANAMBRA	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Progressive Senior Secondary School, Umunya, Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State
BAUCHI	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, KM 60 Wailo, Ganjuwa Local Government Council, Bauchi State
BAYELSA	Kaiama Grammer School, Kaiama, Kolokomaopokuma Local Government Area, Bayelsa State
BENUE	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area, Kilometer 35 Makurdi Gboko Road, Benue
BORNO	Government Science Secondary School, Batagarawa Katsina State
CROSS RIVER	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Obubra, Obubra Local Government Area, Cross River State

DELTA	NYSC Permanent Orientation camp, Former Martins TTC, Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State
EBONYI	NYSC Permanent Orientation camp, Macgregor College, Afikpo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.
EDO	Okada Grammer School, Okada, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Edo State
EKITI	NYSC Permanent Orientation camp, Iseorun/Emure Local Government Area, Ekiti State
ENUGU	NYSC Permanent Orientation camp Agwu, Agwu Local Government Area, Enugu State
FCT	NYSC Permanent Orientation camp, Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, FCT
GOMBE	NYSC Permanent Orientation camp, science Technical College, Amada, Kilometer 21, Gombe Bauchi Highway, near International Airport
IMO	NYSC Permanent orientation camp, FormerGirls Model Secondary School Eziama Obaire, Nkerre Local Government Area, Imo State
JIGAWA	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp , Opposite Army Barrack, Fanisau, Dutse Local Government Area, Jigawa State
KADUNA	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Kaduna- Abuja Road, Kaduna State

KANO	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Kusala Dam, Karaye, Karaye Local Government, Kana State
KATSINA	Youth Multi-Purpose center/ NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Mani Road, Katsina, Katsina State
KEBBI	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Dakingari, Suru Local Government Area, Kebbi State
KOGI	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Asaya, Kabba Local Government Area, Kogi State
KWARA	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area, Kwara State
LAGOS	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Iyana Ipaja, Agege, Lagos State
NASARAWA	Magaji Dan-Yamusa Permanent Orientation Camp, Keffi, Nasarawa State
NIGER	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Former Abubakar, Dada Senior Secondary School, Paiko, Niger State
OGUN	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camo, Ikenne Road Sagamu, Sagamu Local Government Area, Ogun State
ONDO	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp Ikare-Akoko, Ikare-Akoko Local Government Area, Ondo State

OSUN	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Aisu College Hospital Road Ede, Ede North Local Government Area, Osun state
OYO	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp Iseyin, Iseyin Local Government Area, Oyo State
PLATEAU	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Mangu, Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State
RIVERS	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Nonwagbam, Tai Local Government Area, Rivers State
SOKOTO	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Wamakko, Wamakko Local Government Area, Sokoto State
TARABA	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Sibre Airport Road, Jalingo Taraba State
TOBE	College of Administraion and Business Studies, Potiskum, Yobe State
ZAMFARA	NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Beside FRSC Office, Tsafe, Zamfara State

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