The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Olakunle Nafiu, has reaffirmed that all corps members are covered by a comprehensive insurance package throughout their service year.
Nafiu made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during a visit by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Ndace. He explained that the welfare package includes both life insurance and medical care, ensuring corps members are protected at all times.
According to him, the Federal Government has implemented measures to guarantee a safe and fulfilling service experience. He added that the scheme goes beyond basic health coverage by intervening in critical cases not fully handled by insurance.
Highlighting past interventions, Nafiu disclosed that the scheme paid ₦28 million to save the life of a pregnant corps member and her unborn child following a spinal cord injury from a road accident. In another instance, ₦33 million was provided for prosthetic arms for a corps member injured in a separate road crash.
“Since 2004, every corps member has been covered by comprehensive insurance, including health and life insurance. The National Health Insurance Authority caters for corps members whenever they fall ill,” he said.
He further explained that coverage begins immediately call-up letters are issued, even before corps members commence their journey from home.
Nafiu cautioned against the spread of unverified reports about the scheme, urging journalists to confirm facts with the NYSC before publication.
Speaking on deployment, he noted that the posting policy is structured to meet national needs, particularly in critical sectors such as healthcare and education, ensuring all states benefit from corps members’ contributions.
He also emphasized the role of corps members in national assignments, including elections, sensitisation campaigns, and census exercises, noting that their contributions have received both local and international commendation.
The NYSC boss assured that corps members would not be posted to unsafe areas, stressing that the scheme remains apolitical and non-religious in its mission to promote national unity.
Nafiu commended Ndace for his leadership at the Voice of Nigeria, especially in advancing digital innovation in the media sector, and appreciated the media’s continued support.
Earlier, Ndace congratulated Nafiu on his appointment, praising his leadership approach and the collective efforts of the NYSC management team.
“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,” he said.
Ndace also reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to collaborating with the NYSC on content development and youth-focused programming, pledging to amplify corps members’ activities to a global audience.
