By: Abdullah Oladejo

Founded on May 22, 1973, under Decree No. 24 by then Head of State of Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon, the National Youth Service Corps programme (NYSC) was introduced as a nation-building initiative in the aftermath of the Nigerian civil war.

Designed to promote unity among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups, the scheme mandates the deployment of tertiary institution graduates to regions outside their home states, aiming to foster integration, self-reliance, and practical post-tertiary experience.

Despite these noble goals, corps members face realities that diverge their commitment from the programme’s objectives. Some of these corps members shared their challenges and experiences in the course of serving their fatherland with IndyPress.

“If you don’t have additional Income, don’t come to NYSC”- a Corps Member

Isaac Oshibowale, a graduate of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of Ibadan, and a Web3 educator, expressed concern over the mismatch between his academic background and his NYSC posting.

He was deployed to Akwa Ibom State and assigned to a secondary school as a Basic Technology teacher, a placement unrelated to his area of expertise.

“I registered for the scheme under Batch B2 and was posted to Akwa Ibom State where I was assigned as a subject teacher in a secondary school. I teach Basic Technology in the Science Department while as an engineer, I ought to have been posted to an engineering firm or industry,” he said.

Issac oshibowale, a graduate of University of Ibadan serving in Akwa Ibom State.

Although Isaac supports the concept of national service, he voiced concern about what he sees as the scheme’s insufficient financial incentives.

Isaac stated, “I’m currently being paid by both the federal and state governments. I initially received ₦33,000 from the federal government, which increased to ₦77,000 a few months ago. The state government, on the other hand, has been paying ₦5,000 until this month… At a minimum, my monthly expenses reach ₦110,000 just to cover basic needs. Initially, it was very tough for me, but now that the allowance has increased, it hasn’t been much of a problem. I also earn my daily bread from Web3 and Crypto.”

“One thing I usually tell people before the allowance was increased is that if you don’t have an additional source of income, don’t come for NYSC because you’ll have yourself to blame,” he added.

Another major challenge Isaac faced was irregular power supply, as his community had electricity only once during one of his four months of service.

“In the past four months, we’ve only had electricity once, and it lasted less than four hours. Also, due to the nature of the soil here, wells are rarely dug. In fact, I’ve not set my eyes on one since I got here. This implies that I have to buy water from those who have boreholes for my daily usage. This, combined with the cost of using charging centers, significantly increases my monthly expenses as a corps member in this state,” he lamented.

“I feel it is quite unfair to post a young engineer to a secondary school, because in the end, everyone benefits (the students, the school, and the government) except the young man himself,” he convincingly said.

“There were times I genuinely questioned the whole process” – An Engineering Degree Holder 

Luqman, a UI graduate of Engineering, has a more favorable NYSC experience. Initially posted to Anambra State, he received a last-minute redeployment to Lagos State, where he currently serves in a company offering integrated engineering services, including civil, electrical, and mechanical works.

Despite the benefits attached to his posting, Lukman struggles with juggling his business with his NYSC responsibilities. He earns ₦50,000 monthly from her Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) combined with NYSC allowance and income from side hustles, which he says help him stay afloat. He holds a strong conviction that the NYSC scheme should be made optional.

“My advice is that the programme should be made optional without putting those who decide not to do it at a disadvantage later for not having the certificate or so,” he said.

Lukman, a Lagos State corps member. 

Reflecting on her journey so far, Lukman shared mixed feelings. “There were times I genuinely questioned the whole process and felt discouraged, but there have also been times I found it meaningful and even enjoyable. Overall, it has been a journey of growth, learning, and adapting,” he said.

Mary Adetutu, a graduate of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, currently serving as a class teacher in Akwa Ibom, described her NYSC experience as difficult, citing environmental and infrastructural issues.

Mary Adetutu said, “As a corps member, one of the challenges I would say I have faced so far is adapting to a new environment entirely different from what I was used to. Balancing the responsibilities at my PPA can be overwhelming sometimes. Limited access to resources and infrastructure like banks makes it hard to get things done, and also, there is no constant electricity supply.”

She disclosed that while her salary is relatively manageable, the bulk of it is spent on transportation and food. Nevertheless, she values the cultural exchange and networking opportunities the NYSC offers, urging a revamp of the scheme to enhance its impact.

Sulaimon Musbau, a Communication and Language Arts graduate from the University of Ibadan currently serving in Kogi State as an English teacher in a secondary school, said the deployment process was mentally draining.

“My NYSC registration took seven hours,” he recalled, adding that the experience took a mental toll on him. One of the most significant challenges he faces is the language barrier in the Ebira-speaking community where he serves.

“Thank God that I can speak Nigeria’s second lingua franca (Pidgin English). My deployment environment is an Ebira-speaking community. Even the mosque where I worship, after the salat that is done in Arabic, every other thing including sermons is done in their language. So, language is really a barrier. Socializing with the locals is not that easy without at least an average command of their language,” he said.

Sulaimon also cited transportation costs as a major concern as he spends ₦800 daily commuting between his residential destination and place of work.

“The salary is ten thousand naira. It’s a fixed payment here in Kogi State. I was given a place to stay by the administrator of the school I work at. This, of course, saves me the cost of getting accommodation. Even though the cost of living here isn’t too expensive, the allowance paid and the stipend given aren’t enough to sustain one comfortably,” he said.

He urged the federal government to improve corps members’ welfare.

“States like Kogi and others that don’t pay their corps members state allowance should try to do so. The ten thousand naira given by our PPAs is enough to cover the rising cost of living in Nigeria. As a newly deployed corps member, there are a number of essential things to get but they have to be let go due to insufficient funds.”

Unlike Lukman, Sulaimon believes the NYSC programme should remain compulsory, emphasizing the relevance of the scheme’s objectives.

“The objectives behind it are actually profound. Right from my time during camp, I have integrated and known a lot about people from other states. If not for NYSC, some of us may not consider leaving the states where we live or studied,” he added.

Considering the perspectives shared by these corps members about the challenges of the NYSC programme, some have suggested that the Nigerian federal government review the scheme to better align with its objectives. Prospective corps members are also encouraged to be aware of the potential hurdles before participating.