Despite standing directives from the federal government, Nigerian graduates posted to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme continue to face rejection, delay, and outright neglect—frustrating a generation of youth eager to serve.
Over three years after Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, then Director-General of NYSC, warned MDAs against rejecting corps members, the trend not only persists—it’s worsening.
From the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), multiple government institutions are routinely turning corps members away, often without explanation.
The result? A growing number of graduates are stuck at home for months, denied the opportunity to serve their country as required by law—unless they have personal connections or the means to “buy” their way in.
The Law vs. The Reality
Established in 1973 after the civil war, the NYSC scheme was designed as a tool for national unity and post-conflict integration.
Under the NYSC Act Cap N84, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2004), all eligible graduates must serve in approved sectors for one year, with public institutions mandated to absorb them—barring only very specific exceptions.
In practice, however, corps members report being sidelined by opaque internal processes, unofficial influence, and silence from overstretched agencies. Their experience paints a picture of a broken system, one that routinely rewards privilege and punishes perseverance.
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NUPRC: “The Place That Broke Me”
Olu Aditi (not his real name), a corps member posted to NUPRC in 2023, described a months-long ordeal after submitting his letter.
“I was told to return in a week. That turned into four months. No official rejection. No acceptance either. Just silence.”
Despite presenting recommendation letters from a senator and a federal lawmaker, Olu was ignored. Security later barred entry to corps members without “powerful referrals”. Desperate to avoid losing his NYSC allowance, he requested a formal rejection—just to move forward.
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6 Rejections in 9 Months
Another corps member, from the 2024/2025 Batch B Stream 1, described being rejected by six different agencies over a nine-month period.
“I was posted to UBEC. They asked me to return in two weeks and then rejected me. FCDA said they were full. The National Gallery of Art had issues with the Ministry of Arts and Culture. At some point, NYSC mistakenly reposted me to the wrong agency.”
Eventually, she paid someone and used family ties to secure a posting in a private bank.
Police Rejection and Bureaucratic Hurdles
The Nigerian Police Force headquarters in Abuja was also cited. One corps member shared how they were rejected after three weeks of waiting, following earlier rejections elsewhere.
“When I asked to be posted to a private firm, my LGI refused—unless I produced all previous rejection letters. I ended up paying someone to secure the reposting.”
More Voices, More Pain
“I was told to keep checking back for two months,” one corps member said. “Eventually, they accepted me—but there was no communication, no updates. It was draining.”
“I waited almost three months before I was even assigned a desk,” another recalled.
These delays often force young people into limbo—cut off from allowances, housing, or meaningful engagement.
Legal Violations, Zero Accountability
These rejections violate both the NYSC Act and repeated circulars from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), which clearly direct MDAs to accept posted corps members. Yet, enforcement remains weak or non-existent.
Youth Minister Ayodele Olawande had promised to address the issue through a formal memo to President Bola Tinubu. But without concrete accountability measures, corps members fear the cycle will continue.
UBEC Office, Abuja
Responses from MDAs
UBEC spokesperson David Appeh acknowledged the issue, citing overcapacity and financial constraints
“Everyone wants to bring in their own preferred corps members. We pay additional stipends, so managing numbers is a challenge,” he explained.
“We compiled a report after receiving complaints from corps members who said they were posted to UBEC but not accepted. Some brought official posting letters. However, due to full capacity, they were told to wait.”
NUPRC Reacts
An NUPRC official, speaking anonymously, denied outright rejections: “If there’s no space, we ask them to wait. That’s different from rejecting them.”
Nigerian Police PRO Responds
Police PRO Muyiwa Adejobi offered only a dismissive reply: “Who alleged? NYSC? Or who?”
No further comment followed.
Begging to Fulfil National Obligation
Analysts are unanimous in their verdict that if Nigerian youths must beg, bribe, or suffer just to fulfil a national obligation, then the NYSC’s vision of unity and service is under threat.
They argued that fixing this crisis will require more than circulars. It calls for political will, legal enforcement, transparent monitoring, and above all, empathy for young Nigerians determined to serve their nation with dignity.
