The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Olakunle Nafiu, has reiterated that corps members benefit from a comprehensive insurance scheme throughout their service year.
Nafiu made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Ndace, explaining that the welfare arrangement covers both life insurance and healthcare services.
He stated that the Federal Government has implemented safeguards to guarantee corps members a secure and fulfilling service year, adding that the scheme also steps in to support cases beyond standard health insurance coverage.
The NYSC DG referenced previous interventions, including the disbursement of ₦28 million to save the life of a pregnant corps member and her unborn child following a spinal cord injury sustained in a road accident.
He further noted that ₦33 million was provided for prosthetic arms for another corps member who was involved in a road crash while travelling to his 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 (NHIA) caters for Corps Members whenever they fall ill,” he said.
“From the moment call-up letters are issued—before they even begin their journey from their parents’ homes—they are already covered by insurance,” he added.
Nafiu warned against the circulation of unverified information about the scheme, urging journalists to always verify facts with the NYSC before publishing.
He also explained that the scheme’s deployment policy is structured to address national priorities, ensuring that all states benefit from corps members’ contributions, especially in the health and education sectors.
According to him, corps members’ involvement in national assignments such as elections, awareness campaigns, and census activities has received commendation both within and outside the country.
The NYSC DG further assured that corps members would not be posted to insecure locations, stressing that the scheme remains apolitical and non-religious to uphold its mission of fostering national unity.
He praised the VON DG for his leadership and efforts in advancing the media space through digital innovation, while also appreciating the media for its ongoing support.
Earlier, Ndace congratulated Nafiu on his appointment and lauded his leadership approach since taking office.
“General Nafiu has demonstrated a modern leadership style. I commend the NYSC management, as no leader succeeds without the support of their team,” he said.
“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 added.
Ndace also reaffirmed VON’s readiness to collaborate with NYSC on content creation and youth-focused programmes, pledging to highlight corps members’ activities and project the scheme’s initiatives to a global audience.
