When Beatrice Okoh, not her real name, pack her bag for NYSC orientation camp earlier this year, she carry excitement wey fresh graduate get to serve her country. But she no pack for wetin she face: sleeping outside for two nights, no registration after two days, and waiting months for allowance wey government owe her. Her story no be unique.
For many Nigerian graduates, the NYSC year wey dem dey celebrate as rite of passage for national integration and personal development don turn to season of financial wahala, logistical chaos, and broken promises. As frustration grow inside camps and service states, corps members dey break silence.
Tension mount for Lagos State NYSC orientation camp earlier this year when corps members complain about pluralisation policy wey cause confusion and hardship. BusinessDay gather say camp overcrowded, so authorities transfer some corps members to Ogun, Osun, and Kwara States. One female corps member, wey talk on condition of anonymity and dem repost to Sagamu camp for Ogun, say members transferred from Lagos no get kits when dem arrive. Camp managers blame insufficient stock.
“We no anticipate the number of people wey come, and we no get enough kits for everybody now,” one camp coordinator reportedly talk. Worse still, Lagos State NYSC managers no answer BusinessDay phone calls. Multiple Batch A1 corps members describe Lagos camp as overwhelming. One say dem force am to sleep outside because no indoor space. “The place overcrowded, no room to keep corps members. We dey outside, no room to sleep. E take me two days to finish registration,” e talk.
Parents no happy. One father, wey pikin dem transfer from Lagos to Ogun, say the situation show federal government failure. “I think the government dey fail for their responsibility. We no expect this kind horror,” e talk, remembering im own smooth NYSC camp experience for Niger State years ago. “If government no get capacity to keep NYSC scheme, dem should scrap am. Plenty things dey happen wey no happen for our time.” Others say the problem no limit to Lagos. “E happen for almost all camps across Nigeria. I face the same ugly situation for Katsina before dem move us to hostel,” one former corps member talk.
Beyond camp, financial burden dey heavy for corps members. One serving corps member tell BusinessDay say while federal government dey consistent with monthly stipend, many state governments fall short. “Federal government never miss month for us, and I appreciate that. But how state government go allow person to serve for almost 12 months and only pay five months allowance? Wetin happen to the remaining seven months?” She describe the inequity as demoralising. “Wetin hurt more na seeing some corps members paid completely while others dem ignore; meanwhile, we all dey do same NYSC service, attend CDS, clearance, and spend money on transport every week.”
The N15,000 monthly state allowance, she note, may be small, but non-payment compound daily hardship. “Transport alone dey drain. Going to PPA, CDS, and handling daily expenses no easy at all. E dey tiring and unfair. NYSC already stressful without wey you go beg for wetin you entitle to.” Her conclusion blunt: “I can’t wait to finish this service year because the system really need to do better for corps members.”
Nigeria introduce NYSC on May 22, 1973, through Decree No. 24, under General Yakubu Gowon as head of state. The scheme come after the devastating Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) with goal to reconstruct, reconcile, and rebuild the country. The war leave Nigeria divided along ethnic, religious, and regional lines.
For Federal Capital Territory, corps members also dey lament high transport cost, accommodation wahala, and rising feeding expenses. Miss Grace David say high transport for Abuja consume big part of her monthly allowance. “The allowances from government and my PPA no enough to cover transport, feeding, and accommodation.” Miss Dorathy Samuel say she spend about N3,000 daily to commute between her residence and PPA. “Transport don really affect my service year because I spend almost all my money on transport and get little or nothing left at month end.” She appeal to government to increase allowances.
Miss Esther Ekwe say many corps members dey grapple with accommodation and transport challenges. Despite difficulties, dem describe NYSC as valuable for cultural integration, professional growth, and personal development. Ekwe say the scheme help her interact with people from different parts of Nigeria. “Meeting new people and learning their ways of life don expose me to culture of other Nigerians.” She add that serving for Abuja boost her photography career through exposure to experienced professionals. “Despite coping with accommodation and transport challenges, being among highly experienced photographers don boost my career. I don learn more about video and photo editing.”
David say serving for FCT give her opportunity to interact with people from diverse backgrounds, especially at her PPA. The scheme help her improve teaching skills, overcome stage fright, and communicate better with children. Samuel say she happy to post to Abuja because of opportunities. She commend the city’s road network and chance to meet people from different backgrounds. The service year improve her organisational and communication skills. “E don help me understand office organisation and how to relate with people professionally.”
