A viral post circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp in May 2024 claimed that the Federal Government had amended the NYSC Act to mandate two years of national service for all students immediately after they complete their Senior Secondary School exams. The post alleged that students would not be allowed to seek university admission until they produced a “Service Completion Certificate” from the newly formed “Junior Corps.”
The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) issued an official rebuttal, stating that no such amendment has occurred. The scheme remains governed by the NYSC Act, which stipulates that only graduates of universities, polytechnics, and other degree-awarding institutions are eligible and required to serve. The Director of Press and Public Relations at the NYSC described the rumor as a “misinterpretation of a proposed vocational training bill” that had nothing to do with mandatory military or paramilitary service for teenagers.
The Ministry of Education also clarified that it is not in the government’s interest to delay the academic progress of secondary school leavers by two years. Experts pointed out that the logistics required to manage millions of secondary school graduates annually would be impossible under the current budget. The public is advised to ignore these claims, which were likely designed to cause panic among parents and students during the 2024 WAEC and JAMB examination season. Any official changes to the NYSC program are always announced via the scheme’s verified social media handles and official government gazettes.
