The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) plans to mobilise no fewer than 650,000 graduates from within and outside Nigeria for the mandatory one-year service programme in 2026.

 

The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday while delivering a goodwill message at the 7th National Day of Identity organised by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

 

Oluseye revealed that about 400,000 corps members were mobilised this year and underscored the critical role of a secure and trusted National Identity Database in the mobilisation process.

 

He highlighted the success of the integration of National Identity Numbers (NIN) into the NYSC system, which has improved transparency and curbed fraud. Citing a 2023 incident, he said an investigative journalist attempting multiple fraudulent registrations was exposed through the system.

 

“The robust system now makes it practically impossible for ineligible individuals to be mobilised as corps members,” he stated.

 

The NYSC boss commended the collaboration between NIMC and NYSC, noting that it has eliminated multiple registrations and fraudulent enrolments, while making the mobilisation process faster and more efficient.

 

Oluseye assured that the Corps is working to address remaining challenges to ensure an even smoother mobilisation exercise in the coming year.