NYSC Strengthens Verification Process, Partners with WAEC, JAMB, NIMC to Curb Certificate Racketeering
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has revealed that the scheme is working with key agencies—WAEC, JAMB, and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)—to upgrade its verification process for registering Prospective Corps Members.
Speaking during a hearing by the House of Representatives joint committee investigating certificate racketeering, Gen. Nafiu stated that the new system now syncs submitted academic credentials with the National Identification Number (NIN), enhancing the authenticity of applicants’ qualifications.
The move follows the 2024 scandal involving journalist Umar Audu, who exposed flaws in the system after obtaining a fake degree from a university in Benin Republic and successfully registering for NYSC using manipulated details. Gen. Nafiu emphasized that the scheme has since initiated more stringent reforms to prevent such lapses.
However, he noted that inadequate biometric equipment continues to pose a challenge, calling on the government for increased funding to support advanced biometric verification tools and other operational needs.
Also appearing at the hearing, Umar Audu explained how he bypassed the NYSC system by altering his email and phone number. In response, the Ministry of Education, represented by Mrs. Larai Ahmed, confirmed that the department responsible for clearing such credentials has been restructured, with tighter safeguards now in place.
These developments reflect a broader effort by NYSC and relevant authorities to restore integrity and transparency in the national service enrolment process.
