The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, has said that the deployment of corps members must be guided strictly by prevailing security conditions and relevant government policies.
Nafiu stated this on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Pre-Mobilisation Workshop, themed “Enhancing Service Delivery Across the NYSC Mobilisation Value Chain.”
He stressed that the safety, welfare and dignity of corps members remained non-negotiable, warning that any mobilisation process that compromised these values undermined the core principles of national service.
“Deployment decisions should be guided by current security conditions, existing government policies, and the principles of equity, fairness and transparency,” he said.
According to the NYSC Director-General, any mobilisation process that endangers the safety or dignity of corps members strikes at the heart of the scheme, adding that the management remains committed to discharging its responsibilities with patriotism and integrity.
Nafiu described mobilisation as the heartbeat of the NYSC scheme, noting that when it is carried out with precision and integrity, the entire service year progresses smoothly.
He explained that the mobilisation process involves multiple stakeholders, including Corps Producing Institutions (CPIs), regulatory agencies, technology and data platforms, as well as security and welfare coordination mechanisms.
However, he observed that persistent weaknesses across different points of the mobilisation chain had continued to produce outcomes that fell short of expectations, stressing that such challenges must be decisively addressed ahead of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ mobilisation.
The NYSC boss identified recurring issues linked to some CPIs, including violations of mobilisation guidelines, uploading of unqualified graduates, inconsistent academic records, data discrepancies, record manipulation and weak internal verification systems.
He said such practices undermined the credibility of the mobilisation process and exposed the scheme to operational and reputational risks, urging heads of institutions to exercise stronger oversight and ensure continuous training for desk officers.
Nafiu also acknowledged internal operational gaps within the NYSC, such as inconsistent application of guidelines, weak inter-departmental coordination, delays in resolving mobilisation issues and undue human interference in automated processes.
“These gaps diminish institutional efficiency and gradually undermine public trust,” he said.
On technology and data management, Nafiu noted that despite progress in digital mobilisation, challenges including poor data quality, limited technical capacity, resistance to automation and weak feedback mechanisms persisted.
“Technology should serve as an enabler of service delivery, not a source of frustration,” he said, calling for sustained capacity building, regular system audits and minimal human interference in automated processes.
He further identified coordination and communication gaps among stakeholders as sources of avoidable bottlenecks, emphasising the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration, regular review meetings and data-driven decision-making anchored on clear timelines and responsibilities.
Looking ahead, Nafiu said the mobilisation process must be repositioned to become more efficient, transparent, accountable and people-focused.
“This involves delivering timely and accurate results, free from undue influence, with clear accountability for actions and inactions, while remaining responsive to the needs of prospective corps members and stakeholders,” he said.
He urged participants to use the workshop as a platform for honest engagement, practical solutions and measurable reforms, noting that the credibility of the NYSC depended largely on the integrity of its mobilisation process.
“The credibility of the NYSC Scheme depends on the integrity of its mobilisation process.
It is the first promise we make to every young Nigerian who answers the call to serve, and it must never be broken,” he added.
In her remarks, the Director of the Corps Mobilisation Department, Mrs Racheal Idaewor, described the pre-mobilisation workshop as a critical platform for strengthening collaboration between the NYSC, CPIs and other stakeholders.
She said the workshop reaffirmed the scheme’s commitment to improving mobilisation processes and sustaining stakeholder trust and confidence.
Idaewor noted that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) remained one of the scheme’s greatest assets, despite the challenges it posed, adding that effective use of advanced data management systems and digital tools would further streamline mobilisation.
She urged Student Affairs Officers to discharge their duties with diligence and integrity, ensuring that data submitted accurately reflected the profiles of prospective corps members.
