By Joe Udo
LAGOS (CONVERSEER) – The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has saved the Lagos State government approximately N14.8 billion annually through the deployment of corps members across critical sectors, the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has revealed.
Nafiu made this known on Thursday during a courtesy visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at Lagos House, Marina. He noted that the economic value of corps members’ contributions to the state continues to grow, particularly in education, health, and other public and private sectors.
According to him, Lagos currently hosts over 44,000 corps members, including 303 doctors, 7,148 teachers, and 274 nurses. An additional 35,000 are serving in various roles across the state.
“The NYSC scheme has continued to remain a viable scheme not only in uniting the country and building bridges across culture, religion and socio-economic divides, but it also contributes immensely to the socio-economic development of the state and communities where our corps members are deployed,” Nafiu said in a statement issued by Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the governor.
“NYSC saved Lagos about N14.8 billion annually when we consider the cost of paying corps members in the state if they were to be employed full time,” he added.
Nafiu commended the Lagos State government for consistently providing a secure and enabling environment for corps members to serve and thrive. He also highlighted Lagos as the top destination for corps members nationwide, attributing this to its peaceful atmosphere and abundant opportunities for personal and professional growth.
“Lagos State is the number one destination for corps members in the country. Parents are always eager and comfortable when their sons and daughters are posted to Lagos. Parents are comfortable with their daughters serving in Lagos State,” he said.
In his response, Governor Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the NYSC scheme and its members. He described corps members as a vital part of Lagos’ development story and assured continued investment in infrastructure to support their work, including the proposed NYSC permanent site in Ikorodu.
“We are being very deliberate and intentional. It is very gratifying that a large number of corps members in the country are in Lagos. I want to assure you again that we will continue to provide an enabling environment for corps members to feel wanted, loved and appreciated during their times in Lagos,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
“We commend all our youth corpers. It is always something of joy to identify with them, to see those uniforms and to continue to encourage them and for them to thrive in whatever they do. It is a national pride and something that everybody must carry with dignity and honour,” he added.
Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the critical role corps members play in education, healthcare and other sectors, promising to sustain and improve the state’s support for the NYSC scheme.
“We will do whatever is expected of us to make their time and period here a memorable one. We want to assure you that as a government, we will continue to support and make the scheme interesting and memorable for corps members at all times,” he assured.
