Abuja: The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, has announced that the deployment of corps members will be determined by prevailing security conditions and relevant government policies. Nafiu made this statement on Wednesday in Abuja during his keynote address at the 2026 Batch A Pre-Mobilisation Workshop, themed ‘Enhancing Service Delivery Across the NYSC Mobilisation Value Chain.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Nafiu emphasized that the safety, welfare, and dignity of corps members are non-negotiable, warning that any mobilisation process compromising these values undermines national service. He asserted that deployment decisions should align with current security conditions, government policies, and the principles of equity, fairness, and transparency.
Nafiu further highlighted that any mobilisation process endangering the safety or dignity of corps members undermines the essence of national service. He added that the NYSC management is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities with patriotism and integrity. Mobilisation, described as the heartbeat of the scheme, ensures a smooth service year when conducted with precision and integrity.
The director-general explained that the mobilisation process involves various organisations, including Corps Producing Institutions (CPIs), regulatory agencies, technology and data platforms, as well as security and welfare coordination mechanisms. He noted that weaknesses across different points of the mobilisation chain have led to outcomes falling short of expectations, emphasizing the need to address these issues decisively ahead of the 2026 Batch A mobilisation.
Persistent challenges associated with some CPIs were identified, including violations of mobilisation guidelines, uploading of unqualified graduates, inconsistent academic records, data discrepancies, record manipulation, and weak internal verification systems. Nafiu urged heads of institutions to exercise stronger oversight and ensure continuous training for desk officers.
Acknowledging internal operational gaps within the NYSC, Nafiu pointed out issues such as inconsistent application of guidelines, weak inter-departmental coordination, delays in resolving issues, and undue human interference in automated processes. He assured that management is committed to adhering strictly to standard operating procedures, improving collaboration, enhancing professionalism, and ethical conduct at all levels.
Regarding technology and data management, Nafiu acknowledged progress in digital mobilisation but noted challenges such as poor data quality, limited technical skills, resistance to automation, and weak feedback mechanisms. He emphasized that technology should enable service delivery rather than cause frustration, calling for sustained capacity building, regular system audits, and minimal human intervention in automated processes.
Nafiu identified stakeholder coordination and communication gaps as sources of avoidable bottlenecks, stressing the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration, regular review meetings, and data-driven decision-making anchored on clear timelines and responsibilities. Looking ahead, he stated that the mobilisation process must be repositioned to be efficient, transparent, accountable, and people-focused, delivering timely and accurate results free from undue influence.
In her remarks, Mrs. Racheal Idaewor, Director of the Corps Mobilisation Department, described the pre-mobilisation workshop as a critical platform for strengthening collaboration among the NYSC, CPIs, and other stakeholders. She reiterated the scheme’s commitment to improving processes underpinning mobilisation and sustaining stakeholder trust and confidence. Idaewor highlighted Information and Communication Technology as one of the scheme’s greatest assets, despite the challenges it posed, and emphasized the importance of using advanced data management systems and digital tools to streamline mobilisation processes.