President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate employment of 200 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) honourees into the federal civil service. He also awarded each of them ₦250,000 and a scholarship to pursue postgraduate studies at any Nigerian university.
The president, represented by Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, minister of state for labour and employment, made the announcement in Abuja on Tuesday during the combined President’s NYSC honours award ceremony (2020–2023).
Tinubu noted that the gesture was in recognition of the awardees’ “discipline, commitment, selflessness, teamwork, patriotism, and integrity.”
“The head of the civil service of the federation and the chairman of the federal civil service commission will immediately begin their employment process,” he said.
The president also directed the employment of 10 physically challenged former corps members who were injured during their service.
“We will never forget their sacrifice. All the awardees will receive N250,000 each. Finally, each award recipient will be granted a scholarship to pursue postgraduate programmes up to a degree at any university in the country,” he said.
He reaffirmed his administration’s focus on youth empowerment through education, technology, and job creation.
“In appreciation of these critical roles played by youth in national development, and to put them in the foreground of our economy, the government developed several youth-related programmes, covering education, skills development, technology, and information sustainability,” he said.
Tinubu urged the youth to remain hopeful and loyal to Nigeria, saying” Do not yield to those seeking to destabilise the nation.”
Ayodele Olawande, minister of youth development, praised the president’s commitment to youth, noting that his presence at the event was a testament to his “deep-rooted love for the nation’s young people. Each outstanding honouree here today exemplifies the very best of what our youth can achieve,” the minister said.
He said the recent increase in corps members’ allowance from N33,000 to N77,000 was a response to economic realities. “This decision reflects our recognition of the vital role youth play in nation-building,” he added.
Olawande also commended the NYSC’s founders and management, saying his ministry would continue to support the scheme.
Olakunle Nafiu, the NYSC director-general, said the awardees were selected through a multilevel screening process assessing service record, community impact, and civic engagement.
He said 10 ex-corps members who suffered permanent injuries during service were honoured through the NYSC Hope Alive programme. “They are not just honorees—they are heroes of our Republic,” Nafiu said.
He also paid tribute to four corps members who lost their lives in the line of duty. “In 2023 alone, we engaged 6,340 core medical personnel, including 2,319 doctors, to expand access to free healthcare in remote areas,” Nafiu said.
He said more than four million Nigerians had benefitted from NYSC’s health initiative for rural dwellers, adding that the scheme’s entrepreneurship programme trains over 250,000 corps members annually.
“The NYSC remains a living, working institution, actively shaping lives and building the nation from the ground up,” Nafiu said.
He said reforms were focused on security, personal growth, resilience, and communication. “We are building a scheme that delivers material comfort, teaches relevant skills, and restores the beauty to the idea of national duty.”
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