By Peace Erewunmi

The Federal Government has approved 50,000 additional mobilisation slots for the 2026 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service year in a bid to reduce the growing backlog of graduates awaiting enlistment into the national service scheme. The approval is expected to accommodate thousands of prospective corps members who have experienced delays in mobilisation due to the increasing number of graduates from tertiary institutions.

The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, announced the development during the inauguration of a remodelled clinic at the scheme’s National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja. He explained that the additional mobilisation slots have already been captured in the 2026 federal budget, while further provisions have also been included in the proposed 2027 budget to improve the welfare of corps members.

According to Nafiu, the NYSC plans to mobilise about 450,000 prospective corps members during the 2026 service year. He noted that the expansion is part of the Federal Government’s response to repeated complaints by graduates over prolonged waiting periods before they are called up for national service.

The NYSC boss also assured prospective corps members that their safety remains a top priority. He stated that the scheme continues to avoid deploying corps members to areas classified as high-risk or “red zones,” stressing that the organisation has a responsibility to protect the lives of young Nigerians participating in the programme.

Beyond the increase in mobilisation slots, Nafiu disclosed that the Federal Government has made provisions to improve the quality of corps members’ kits, feeding arrangements, and transportation allowances in future budget cycles. He added that these measures are aimed at enhancing the welfare and overall experience of participants in the scheme.

He explained that Nigeria now has more than 400 institutions producing graduates eligible for national service, compared to fewer than a dozen when the NYSC was established in 1973. This rapid expansion in tertiary education, he said, has significantly increased the number of graduates seeking mobilisation each year, making the additional slots necessary.

The Director-General further noted that delays in mobilisation are not always caused by the NYSC. According to him, some higher institutions fail to upload Senate-approved graduation lists on time, while some graduates postpone mobilisation after being posted to particular states. He said the scheme’s automated mobilisation system helps manage the growing number of eligible graduates efficiently.

The approval has been welcomed by many prospective corps members who have been waiting for mobilisation. Stakeholders say the additional slots could reduce the backlog and enable more graduates to complete their national service and proceed with employment or further academic pursuits. However, some observers have also called for broader economic reforms and increased job creation to ensure that graduates have more employment opportunities after completing the NYSC programme.