Massive Cost-Cutting! NYSC Reveals How It Shields States From ₦30bn Yearly Expenses

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, has revealed that the scheme helps state governments save between ₦30 billion and ₦40 billion every year through the deployment of corps members to essential sectors.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

He made the disclosure in Abuja on Monday during the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on NYSC Reform, which focused on repositioning the 52-year-old scheme to better meet current national and global challenges.

Emphasising the crucial role of NYSC in state-level development, Nafiu stated:
“No state can survive today without the NYSC.”

According to him, the scheme’s manpower interventions significantly reduce government expenditure on recruitment.

“We have saved some states up to ₦30–₦40 billion yearly through corps member deployment,”
— Brig-Gen Nafiu

He cited the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as an example, noting that over 400 medical doctors are deployed there annually through NYSC — a number he said would be almost impossible for the government to recruit within a single year. Lagos and other states, he added, benefit in similar ways.

The DG also noted that state governments frequently reach out to the NYSC to tackle manpower shortages, especially in the education sector, requesting targeted deployments to improve outcomes.

“These requests usually yield results within a few years, and such improvements are verifiable,” he said.

Reflecting on the scheme’s expansion, Nafiu disclosed that NYSC now mobilises about 400,000 corps members every year. With data from 419 accredited Corps Producing Institutions nationwide, the number of prospective corps members is projected to rise to 650,000 next year.

“NYSC Is Indispensable to States” — Minister

The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, backed the DG’s position, insisting that state governments rely heavily on corps members for essential services.

“There is no state government that can function properly without corps members — be it in education, health, agriculture, sports, or other areas,” he said.

Olawande described the scheme as a vital engine for grassroots development and a major national asset, while calling for a modernised approach that reflects today’s realities.

He stressed the need to reform the posting system so corps members are placed in fields relevant to their academic and professional skills.

Stakeholders Push for Reform

Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, also addressed the forum, emphasising that the success of the reform process depends on collaboration among all stakeholders.