The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has reaffirmed that all Corps Members are protected by a comprehensive insurance package covering both life and medical care throughout their service year.
Speaking in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Baba Ndace, Nafiu emphasized that the Federal Government has instituted adequate measures to ensure Corps Members enjoy a safe and fulfilling service experience.
He disclosed that beyond standard coverage, the Scheme also intervenes in critical medical cases not fully covered by insurance. He cited instances where NYSC spent ₦28 million to save the life of a pregnant Corps Member and her unborn child following spinal cord injuries from a road accident, as well as ₦33 million to procure prosthetic arms for another Corps Member injured in a separate road crash while travelling to their place of primary assignment.
“Since 2004, every Corps Member has been covered by comprehensive insurance, including health and life insurance. The National Health Insurance Authority caters for them whenever they fall ill,” Nafiu said.
“From the moment call-up letters are issued—even before they leave their parents’ homes—they are already covered by insurance,” he added.
The NYSC DG cautioned against the spread of unverified reports about the Scheme, urging journalists to always confirm information with NYSC before publication.
He further explained that NYSC’s posting policy is structured to meet national needs, ensuring all states benefit from Corps Members’ contributions, particularly in critical sectors like healthcare and education. He noted that Corps Members’ roles in national assignments such as elections, sensitisation campaigns, and population census exercises have earned commendation both locally and internationally.
Nafiu also assured that Corps Members would not be deployed to unsafe areas, reiterating that the Scheme remains apolitical and non-religious to sustain its core mandate of promoting national unity.
Commending the VON leadership, he praised Ndace for driving innovation in the media space and described the organisation as a vital tool in Nigeria’s strategic communication framework. He also appreciated the media for its continued support of NYSC activities.
Earlier, Ndace congratulated Nafiu on his appointment and lauded his leadership style since assuming office. He revealed that VON is collaborating with international media organisations to promote positive narratives about Nigeria and pledged the agency’s support in projecting NYSC programmes to a global audience.
“At the Voice of Nigeria, our mandate is to project Nigeria’s image, perspectives, and values to the global community. We currently broadcast in eight Nigerian languages,” Ndace said.
He reiterated VON’s commitment to partnering with NYSC on content development, youth-focused programming, and amplifying the contributions of Corps Members nationwide, while emphasizing efforts to reshape Nigeria’s global image through impactful storytelling.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
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