ABUJA, Nigeria – Wednesday, July 15, 2026 – The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has issued a stern warning to employers across Nigeria, cautioning that organisations found exploiting, abusing, or unfairly treating corps members risk facing sanctions.
The warning was issued on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, by the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, who reaffirmed the scheme’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare, safety, and rights of corps members throughout their service year.
Speaking during an engagement with employers and other stakeholders, Nafiu stressed that corps members must be assigned duties relevant to their academic qualifications and professional skills, rather than being subjected to hazardous, degrading, or unrelated tasks.
He warned that employers are expected to provide a safe and conducive working environment, treat corps members with dignity and respect, and strictly adhere to the operational guidelines of the NYSC.
According to the NYSC Director-General, organisations that intimidate, harass, exploit, or violate the rights of corps members could face appropriate sanctions in line with the scheme’s regulations.
Nafiu also urged corps members experiencing workplace abuse, unsafe conditions, or other forms of maltreatment to promptly report such incidents to their Local Government Inspectors or the nearest NYSC State Secretariat for immediate intervention.
He reiterated that the NYSC remains committed to collaborating with employers while ensuring that corps members are protected from exploitation and are given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to national development.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over reports that some corps members have been assigned menial jobs unrelated to their training, denied basic welfare, or exposed to unsafe working conditions in parts of the country.
The NYSC called on all employers to uphold the ideals of the national service programme by creating an enabling environment where corps members can acquire valuable workplace experience while serving the nation.