Two hundred and ten ex-corps members from 2020 – 2023 service years have been offered automatic employment, scholarship within Nigeria up to Doctorate level and cash awards of N250,000 each from President Bola Tinubu.
President Tinubu announced the package during the 2025 edition of the President’s NYSC Honours Award Ceremony in Abuja.
Two hundred of them distinguished themselves during the national service, with outstanding contributions in all the scheme’s four cardinal programmes
The remaining ten sustained life-transforming injuries in the course of their service year.
The president was represented by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
He directed the Head of Service and the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission to facilitate their immediate employment.
He commended General Yakubu Gowon’s administration for establishing NYSC in 1973.
The President extolled successive NYSC leadership and corps members for contribution to Nigeria’s development for the past 52 years.
Corps members notable contributions
Tinubu said the contributions of corps members to national unity and development, particularly in agriculture, education, and healthcare sectors could not be over-emphasized.
He said the government had instituted several youth-related programmes in order to enable them make significant contributions to the growth and economic advancement of the country.
In an address, the Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande also hailed the contributions of corps members to national unity and integration, economic advancement, rural growth, educational improvement, free medicare for indigent Nigerians, among others.
NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, described the President’s NYSC Honours Award Ceremony as an occasion for National tribute to excellence, sacrifice and hope.
General Nafiu saluted President Tinubu’s visionary leadership which consistently paved the way for progressive youth development.
He said the NYSC had witnessed increased support through strategic inclusion in government’s core development architecture.
Allowance increment lauded
The NYSC DG appreciated the recent increase of corps members’ allowances from N33,000 to N77,000.
According to him, a development he said had revitalized their commitment to duty.
He said the signing of the NYSC Trust Fund bill, would help in revamping existing infrastructure, and improving camp facilities.
The bill seeking to establish a sustainable funding framework, will also support the welfare and post-service reintegration of corps members.
The DG assured that the names, deeds, and legacies of corps members who died during service, would not be forgotten.
He added that NYSC deployed 6,340 corps medical personnel to offer free medical care to about 4 million indigent Nigerians.
The deployment is under the NYSC’s Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme in 2025.
