Editorial
NYSC Is 50 Today

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was established in May, 1973 by General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) to promote national integration after the civil war. Today marks its 50-year anniversary, and we congratulate its administration, staff, and all Nigerians who have participated in the one-year mandatory programme for graduates of tertiary institutions. Over the past five decades, the scheme has remained committed and become a vital agency of national integration among our institutions.
The NYSC has played a crucial role in our country’s development by providing quality manpower to less privileged states. This has been achieved through various partnerships with other organisations. These partnerships include using corps members for enumeration work during the national population census. They also include presiding officers during national elections, and deployment for routine immunisation. These contributions have positively impacted the country’s development.
Also, the health sector has benefited greatly from the scheme. This has successfully reversed the spread of HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and COVID-19 through awareness campaigns and public education on prevention and care. The service has also made vital impacts in other areas such as education, legal aid services, anti-corruption efforts, road safety awareness, and campaigns against drug abuse and human trafficking.
Gowon’s administration established a quasi-military plan for Nigerian university graduates to learn about their country’s people, history, culture, and geography. The scheme was initially opened to graduates under 30 with degrees from universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Specifically, those with BA/BSc, HND, and NCE were mobilised. Prospective corps members were assigned to states other than their origin.
The orientation included military and citizenship training, as well as lectures on Nigerian culture. Entrepreneurship training was added later. Following the one-month orientation, participants were assigned to their primary postings based on their qualifications. Medical doctors assigned to hospitals and other health facilities, engineers to construction firms and the Ministry of Works, and teachers to schools.
Corps members were assigned to universities, polytechnics, and education colleges. University and polytechnic graduates received N200 monthly allowance, while college of education graduates received N160. However, after NCE holders expressed their grievances over the discrimination, they were no longer eligible for the scheme after the 1984/85 service year. Hence, only HND and university graduates were recruited for the mandatory one-year service.
The programme facilitated the cohabitation of Nigerian youths from varying tribes and ethnicities, effectively eradicating prejudices and stereotypes towards different regions of the country. The NYSC initiative played a part in mitigating the war aftermath and fostering national unity among Nigerians. In addition to intertwining inter-ethnic relationships, it also brought about several inter-ethnic marriages and novel friendships.
It facilitates a sense of national identity among Nigerian citizens, transcending their ethnic and religious backgrounds. Prospective corps members expressed satisfaction at being appointed to serve in any given state. They similarly demonstrated patriotism by embracing their designated primary assignment place.
However, since the NYSC has been around for 50 years, it is essential to evaluate its implementation to determine its future. As with any intervention initiative, scheme or programme, the agency’s continued existence, modification, or outright scrapping should be considered. A thorough appraisal of the NYSC’s impact, benefits, and challenges will provide insight into its effectiveness and relevance in today’s society.
It is pertinent to recognise recent obstacles that have hindered the service, diminished its attractiveness, and undermined its purpose. Only 5.7 million Nigerians have participated so far, which highlights individuals evading responsibilities in a country where many graduate from tertiary institutions yearly. Some continue to question the programme’s value, and a bill proposed two years ago to terminate the initiative passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
While we support the NYSC ideals, we believe reform is necessary to align with current requirements. Our proposed reform focuses on security, funding, branding, content, and structure. It also focuses on major milestones in corps members’ lives such as mobilisation, orientation, primary assignments, community development, and passing out.
Management should prioritise sorting out deployment issues to assist urgent national needs. This will lead to better manpower deployment, enhanced contribution to national development, improved self-esteem of corps members, no rejecting or underutilisation, and ultimately restore the spirit of public service.
It is a fact that corps members are sometimes discriminated against in postings to states and places of primary assignment. This discrimination is often based on their tribe and religion. That must be checked. Furthermore, the remuneration of N33,000 provided to a corpes member is inadequate when converted into its US dollar equivalent. This is therefore insufficient to meet the monthly expenses of a ‘corper’. It is recommended that President Muhammadu Buhari endorse the reviewed allowance awaiting his approval before leaving office.
Fifty years after its inception, Nigerian unity has diminished. The country is now more divided than when the scheme was launched. In the 2023 general election, individuals were openly disenfranchised in some states because of their ethnic identities. Without immediate action to prevent further division, Nigeria’s political landscape will only become more divisive.
As the NYSC celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is necessary to remember corps members who have lost their lives or suffered permanent injuries during their service. Despite challenges, the programme has been a huge success in Nigeria. To address financial hurdles, the trust fund bill has been approved by both the Senate and House of Representatives. Swift endorsement of the bill will promote youth empowerment and bridge the deficit.
Editorial
Benue Killings: Beyond Tinubu’s Visit

The recent massacre in Yelewata, Benue State, ranks among Nigeria’s deadliest attacks of
2025. While official figures put the death toll at 59, media reports and Amnesty International estimate between 100 and 200 fatalities. This atrocity extends a decade-long pattern of violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where Beacon Security data records 1,043 deaths in Benue alone between May 2023 and May 2025.
President Tinubu’s visit on 18 June—four days after the 14 June attack—has drawn sharp criticism for its lateness. This delay echoes a history of inadequate responses, with Human Rights Watch documenting similar inaction in Plateau and Kaduna states since 2013, fuelling a culture of impunity. The attack lasted over two hours without meaningful security intervention, despite claims of swift action.
The violence bore hallmarks of genocide, with survivors recounting systematic house burnings and executions. More than 2.2 million people have been displaced in the region since 2019 due to comparable attacks. Data show Benue’s agricultural output falls by 0.21 per cent in crops and 0.31 per cent in livestock for every 1 per cent rise in violence.
Security forces continue to underperform. No arrests were made following the Easter attacks in April (56 killed) or May’s Gwer West massacre (42 killed). During his visit, Tinubu questioned publicly why no suspects had been detained four days after Yelewata, highlighting entrenched accountability failures.
The roots of the conflict are complex, with climate change pushing northern herders south and 77 per cent of Benue’s population reliant on agriculture. A Tiv community leader described the violence as “calculated land-grabbing” rather than mere clashes, with over 500 deaths recorded since 2019.
Government interventions have largely fallen short. The 2018 federal task force and 2025 Forest Guards initiative failed to curb violence. Tinubu’s newly announced committee of ex-governors and traditional rulers has been met with scepticism given the litany of past unkept promises.
The economic fallout is severe. Benue’s status as Nigeria’s “food basket” is crumbling as farms are destroyed and farmers displaced. This worsens the nation’s food crisis, with hunger surges in 2023-2024 directly linked to farming disruptions caused by insecurity.
Citizens demanding justice have been met with force; protesters faced police tear gas, and the State Assembly conceded total failure in safeguarding lives, admitting that the governor, deputy, and 32 lawmakers had all neglected their constitutional responsibilities.
The massacre has drawn international condemnation. Pope Leo XIV decried the “terrible massacre,” while the UN called for an investigation. The hashtag “200 Nigerians” trended worldwide on X, with many contrasting Nigeria’s slow response to India’s swift action following a plane crash with similar fatalities.
Nigeria’s centralised security system is clearly overwhelmed. A single police force is tasked with covering 36 states and 774 local government areas for a population exceeding 200 million. Between 2021 and 2023 alone, 29,828 killings and 15,404 kidnappings were recorded nationally. Proposals for state police, floated since January 2025, remain stalled.
Other populous nations offer alternative models. Canada’s provincial police, India’s state forces, and Indonesia’s municipal units demonstrate the effectiveness of decentralised policing. Nigeria’s centralised structure creates intelligence and response gaps, worsened by the distance—both physical and bureaucratic—from Abuja to affected communities.
The immediate aftermath is dire: 21 IDP camps in Benue are overwhelmed, and a humanitarian crisis is deepening. The State Assembly declared three days of mourning (18-20 June), but survivors lack sufficient medical aid. Tragically, many of those killed were already displaced by earlier violence.
A lasting solution requires a multi-pronged approach, including targeted security deployment, regulated grazing land, and full enforcement of Benue’s 2017 Anti-Open Grazing Law. The National Economic Council’s failure to prioritise state police in May 2025 represents a missed chance for reform.
Without decisive intervention, trends suggest conditions will worsen. More than 20,000 Nigerians have been killed and 13,000 kidnapped nationwide in 2025 alone. As Governor Hyacinth Alia stressed during Tinubu’s visit, state police may be the only viable path forward. All 36 states have submitted proposals supporting decentralisation—a crucial step towards breaking Nigeria’s vicious cycle of violence.
Editorial
Responding To Herders’ Threat In Rivers

Editorial
Democracy Day: So Far…

Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999 marked a watershed moment in the nation’s political history. After enduring nearly 16 years of successive military dictatorships, Nigerians embraced a new era of civil governance with the inauguration of President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999. Since then, the country has sustained a democratic system for 26 years. But, this democratic journey has been a complex mix of progress and persistent challenges.
The formal recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari acknowledged a long-standing injustice. The annulment of the 1993 presidential election, Nigeria’s freest, betrayed the democratic aspirations of millions. That it took decades to honour this date reflects the nation’s complex relationship with its democratic memory.
One of the most momentous successes of Nigeria’s democracy has been the uninterrupted civilian rule over the last two and a half decades. The country has witnessed seven general elections, with power transferring peacefully among different political parties. This is particularly notable considering that prior to 1999, no civilian government had completed a full term without military intervention. The peaceful transitions in 2007, 2015, and 2023 are testaments to Nigeria’s evolving democratic maturity.
Electoral participation, while uneven, has also reflected a level of democratic engagement. In 2003, voter turnout stood at about 69 per cent, but this figure dropped to approximately 34.75 per cent in 2023, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Although the declining turnout raises concerns, it also highlights the increasing expectations of the electorate, who demand credible and transparent elections.
Another area of progress is the growth of a vibrant and free press. Nigerian media has played a crucial role in holding governments accountable and fostering public discourse. Investigative journalism and civil society activism have exposed corruption and human rights abuses. The rise of social media has further expanded the democratic space, enabling young Nigerians to mobilise and advocate for change, as evidenced by the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
Judicial independence has seen mixed results. On one hand, the judiciary has occasionally demonstrated resilience, such as in landmark rulings that overturned fraudulent elections or curtailed executive excesses. On the other hand, allegations of political interference and corruption within the judiciary persist, undermining public confidence in the legal system’s impartiality.
Nigeria’s democracy has also facilitated the decentralisation of power through the federal system. State governments now wield some autonomy, allowing for experimentation in governance and service delivery. While this has led to innovative policies in some states, it has also entrenched patronage networks and uneven development across the federation.
Despite these successes, Nigeria’s democratic journey faces formidable problems. Electoral integrity remains a critical concern. Reports from election observers, including those from the European Union and ECOWAS, frequently highlight issues such as vote-buying, ballot box snatching, and violence. The introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission of results in 2023 elections showed promise, but technical glitches and alleged manipulations dampened public trust.
Corruption continues to be a pervasive issue. Nigeria ranks 145th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, with a score of 25/100. Democratic institutions meant to check graft—such as anti-corruption agencies and the legislature—often struggle due to political interference and weak enforcement mechanisms.
Security challenges have also strained Nigeria’s democracy. Insurgency in the North East, banditry in the North West, separatist agitations in the South East, and herder-farmer conflicts across the Middle Belt have collectively resulted in thousands of deaths and displacements. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2024, Nigeria ranks as the eighth most impacted country by terrorism. The government’s difficulty in ensuring safety erodes public confidence in the state’s capacity and legitimacy.
The economy poses another critical remonstrance. Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita stands at approximately $2,400 as of 2024, with over 40 per cent of the population living below the national poverty line. High unemployment and inflation have fueled discontent and disillusionment with democratic governance, especially among youth. Without addressing economic grievances, the democratic dividend will remain elusive for many Nigerians.
Ethnic and religious divisions further complicate Nigeria’s democratic consolidation. Politicians often exploit identity politics for electoral gains, exacerbating social tensions. Although federal character principles aim to promote inclusiveness, they have also sometimes fostered a quota mentality rather than merit-based appointments.
Gender representation remains inadequate in Nigeria’s democratic institutions. Women occupy less than 10 per cent of seats in the National Assembly, one of the lowest rates globally. Efforts to pass gender parity bills have faced stiff resistance, highlighting deep-seated cultural and institutional barriers to female political participation.
Civil liberties, while constitutionally guaranteed, are under threat. Crackdowns on protesters, restrictions on press freedom, and surveillance of activists reveal an authoritarian streak within the democratic framework. The controversial Twitter ban in 2021 exemplified the country’s willingness to curb digital freedoms, prompting domestic and international criticism.
The political crisis in Rivers State embodies broader democratic struggles. Attempts to control the state through undemocratic means expose weaknesses in federal institutions and the rule of law. Immediate restoration of democratic governance in Rivers State is vital to preserving Nigeria’s democratic integrity and institutional credibility.
Local governments remain under the control of state governors, depriving citizens of grassroots democracy. Last year’s Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy is promising, but state-level resistance threatens its implementation. Genuine autonomy would bring governance closer to the people and foster democratic innovation.
As we mark Democracy Day, we must honour the sacrifices of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Femi Falana, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Pa Alfred Rewane, President Bola Tinubu, and countless others, who fought for Nigeria’s freedom. As democracy in Nigeria continues to evolve after 26 years, this day should inspire action toward its renewal. With despotism and state failure as real threats, both citizens and leaders must take responsibility—citizens by demanding more, and leaders by delivering. Excuses are no longer acceptable.