The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has raised fresh concerns over data integrity in the mobilisation of corps members, warning tertiary institutions nationwide to strengthen internal validation processes or face sanctions.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, delivered the message on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Pre-Mobilisation Workshop, themed “Enhancing Service Delivery Across the NYSC Mobilisation Value Chain.” The workshop brought together Student Affairs Officers from corps-producing institutions and representatives of key regulatory agencies.
Nafiu stressed that the credibility of the NYSC scheme rests heavily on accurate and transparent data management, urging heads of institutions to exercise stricter oversight of mobilisation activities. He also called on NYSC Desk Officers to undergo continuous training to keep pace with evolving standards and technological advancements.
According to the NYSC boss, the scheme remains committed to its Standard Operating Procedures, improved collaboration across departments, area offices and state secretariats, and stronger performance monitoring, discipline, professionalism and ethical conduct at all levels.
He further advocated enhanced inter-agency cooperation, regular stakeholder review meetings and a shift toward data-driven decision-making guided by clear timelines and defined responsibilities.
“As we look ahead, the NYSC mobilisation process must be repositioned to be efficient, transparent, accountable and people-focused,” Nafiu said. “This involves delivering timely and accurate results, free from undue influence, with clear accountability for actions and inactions.”
Describing mobilisation as a complex ecosystem involving the production, validation, deployment and management of Prospective Corps Members, Nafiu acknowledged gains recorded through digital mobilisation but warned that key challenges persist. These include poor data quality at source, limited technical capacity among operators, resistance to full automation and weak feedback mechanisms.
He also identified serious violations undermining the process, such as the uploading of unqualified graduates, inconsistent academic records, data discrepancies and deliberate manipulation of records for personal or illegal gain. Nafiu cautioned that institutions found guilty of fraudulent mobilisation would face appropriate sanctions.
Earlier, the Director of the Corps Mobilisation Department, Mrs Rachel Idaewor, urged Student Affairs Officers to carry out their responsibilities with diligence and integrity, ensuring that all submitted data accurately reflects the true status of Prospective Corps Members.
She emphasized that NYSC’s collaboration with stakeholders including the Federal Ministry of Education, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Universities Commission (NUC) and SIDMACH Technologies remains central to improving mobilisation efficiency and service delivery.
The workshop underscored NYSC’s renewed push to tighten controls, deepen accountability and protect the integrity of one of Nigeria’s most important national institutions as preparations for the 2026 Batch ‘A’ mobilisation gather pace.