The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Olakunle Nafiu, has reaffirmed that all corps members are covered by a comprehensive insurance package throughout their service year.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during a visit by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Ndace, Nafiu explained that the welfare package includes both life insurance and medical care. He noted that the Federal Government has implemented measures to ensure that corps members enjoy a safe and rewarding service experience, adding that the insurance scheme also covers cases not normally included under standard health insurance.
Citing past interventions, Nafiu highlighted that ₦28 million was paid to save the life of a pregnant corps member and her unborn child after a spinal cord injury sustained in a road accident. Another corps member involved in a traffic crash received ₦33 million for prosthetic arms. “Since 2004, every corps member has been covered by comprehensive insurance, including health and life insurance. The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) provides medical care whenever a corps member falls ill,” he said. He added that insurance coverage begins the moment call-up letters are issued, even before corps members start their journey from their homes.
Nafiu urged the public to avoid spreading unverified reports about the scheme, emphasizing the importance of confirming facts with the NYSC before publication. He also explained that the scheme’s posting policy is designed to meet national needs, ensuring that all states benefit from corps members’ contributions, particularly in healthcare and education.
Highlighting corps members’ involvement in national assignments, Nafiu said their participation in elections, sensitisation campaigns, and census exercises has been widely recognized both locally and internationally. He assured that corps members would not be deployed to unsafe areas and reiterated that the NYSC remains apolitical and non-religious, promoting national unity.
During the visit, Ndace congratulated Nafiu on his appointment and commended his leadership style, noting that NYSC’s achievements are supported by a strong management team. He reaffirmed VON’s commitment to collaborating with NYSC on content development and youth-focused programming, aiming to showcase the scheme’s initiatives to a global audience.
