The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has called for a renewed and strategic partnership between the scheme and corps members’ employers to address low productivity, and disillusionment among corps members in Edo.
Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, Director-General of the corps made the call on Thursday in Benin while declaring open the 2025 NYSC/Corps Employers’ Workshop.
Nafiu represented by Mrs Hauwa Kwajafa, Assistant Director, South South Area office I of the NYSC, Asaba, said that scheme could only achieve its mandate of nation-building and youth development with the active collaboration of corps employers.
“The need to revamp the partnership is urgent and a courageous thing to do.
“Where is the partnership between NYSC and corps employers that effectively managed the youths by putting in place the necessary environment that ensured that corps members are eager to contribute their quota to the development of the nation?,” he asked.
While acknowledging the success of past collaborations, the NYSC boss lamented a steady decline in employers compliance with key responsibilities such as provision of accommodations, supervisions, security, and timely clearance for corps members.
“In recent times, these activities considered given became jettisoned in part or whole.
“The outcome became visible in the rising level of truancy, reduced productivity at the workplace, poor work ethics, and minimal execution of community development projects due to corps members’ disillusionment,” he said.
Nafiu noted that employers’ negligence had contributed to a range of systemic challenges, including induced rejections, evasion of service, and lack of accountability for corps members’ whereabouts.
“Employers are unable to account for the whereabouts of corps members they fail to provide accommodation for.
“Truancy increases when corps members are left as sheep without shepherds,” he stressed.
To rebuild confidence and efficiency, he urged corps employers to recommit to their statutory roles and adopt modern tools for managing corps members.
He called for more effective use of digital platforms, quarterly performance reporting, and better welfare provision, including accommodation, transportation allowance, and access to healthcare.
In her address of welcome, Dr Frances Ben-Ushie, the Edo Coordinator of the scheme urged participants to share experiences and proffer implementable solutions that would improve the administration of the NYSC.
She also called for active engagements that would enhance the productivity of corps members in their various places of primary assignments.
“Together, let us build a structure that nurtures our youth, strengthens the values of patriotism and contributes to the socio-economic development of Edo and our dear country, Nigeria,” she said.
In his lecture titled “The Role of an ldeal Corps Employer in Realisation of NYSC Objectives”, Sulaiman Aledeh, Managing Director, Edo Broadcasting Service advocated opening dialogue in corps members and employers dealings.
Aledeh urged the employers to understand that time had changed and the crop of corps members today belonged to generation ‘Z’ requiring patience to deal with.
“The orientation should start and be with the employers. We have lots of responsibilities to keep Nigeria going as well as the survival of our corps members in service,” he said.