The National Youth Service Corps has dismissed as false a viral report alleging that the scheme operates a “ransom clause” and exposes corps members to banditry.
The clarification follows growing concerns among families regarding the safety of corps members, particularly those posted to areas with security challenges across Nigeria.
The NYSC issued the rebuttal on Wednesday through its Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, stating that no such provision exists in the scheme’s Act, Bye-laws, or official publications.
The Management and Staff of the National Youth Service Corps have noted with serious concern the circulation of a misleading and alarmist write-up titled ‘Urgent: The NYSC Death Trap Our Graduates Are Being Sold to Bandits,’” the statement read.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NYSC categorically states that there is no provision whatsoever for any ‘ransom clause.’ This claim is entirely fictitious and should be disregarded in its entirety,” it added.
The controversy emerged following the case involving Musa Abba, which the scheme clarified had been wrongly linked to the NYSC. The organisation explained that the individual in question had completed his national service in 2023 and was not a serving corps member at the time of the incident.
Amid rising concerns about security, the NYSC stated that it continues to collaborate with security agencies to protect corps members nationwide. It noted that corps members posted to high-risk areas are provided with protection, including military escorts, a measure implemented since 2024 in parts of the North-West and earlier in the North-East.
The scheme also revealed that orientation camps in states such as Kebbi, Kaduna, Kwara, Borno, Gombe, and Plateau have been relocated to safer locations to ensure the safety and welfare of corps members and camp officials.
According to the statement, all corps members are covered by a life insurance policy through a Memorandum of Understanding with Capital Express Assurance Limited, which extends coverage for three weeks after completion of service, in addition to enrollment under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The NYSC reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare and safety of corps members, stressing that misinformation and fake news can create unnecessary fear and weaken public trust in national institutions.
