NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS ACT

(1) There is hereby established a scheme to be known as the National Youth Service Corps (in this Act referred to as "the service corps").
(2) The service corps shall with a view to-
(a) the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the Nigerian youths;
(b) the promotion of national unity; and
(c) the development of the Nigerian youth and Nigeria into a great and dynamic economy,
be charged with the functions as pertain to the objectives of the service corps set out in subsection (3) of this section.
(3) The objectives of the service corps shall be to-
(a) inculcate discipline in Nigerian youths by instilling in them a tradition of industry at work, and, of patriotic and loyal service to Nigeria in any situation they may find themselves;
(b) raise the moral tone of the Nigerian youths by giving them the opportunity to learn about higher ideals of national achievement, social and cultural improvement;
(c) develop in the Nigerian youths the attitudes of mind, acquired through shared experience and suitable training, which will make them more amenable to mobilisation in the national interest;
(d) enable Nigerian youths acquire the spirit of self reliance by encouraging them to develop skills for self employment;
(e) contribute to the accelerated growth of the national economy;
(f) develop common ties among the Nigerian youths and promote national unity and integration;
(g) remove prejudices, eliminate ignorance and confirm at first hand the many similarities among Nigerians of all ethnic groups; and
(h) develop a sense of corporate existence and common destiny of the people of Nigeria.
(4) In order to achieve the objectives in subsection (3) of this section, the service corps shall ensure-
(a) the equitable distribution of members of the service corps and the effective utilisation of their skills in areas of national needs;
(b) that as far as possible, Nigerian youths are assigned to jobs in States other than their States of origin;
(c) that such group of Nigerian youths assigned to work together is representative of Nigeria as far as possible;
(d) that the Nigerian youths are exposed to the modes of living of the people in different parts of Nigeria;
(e) that the Nigerian youths are encouraged to eschew religious intolerance by accommodating religious differences;
(f) that members of the service corps are encouraged to seek at the end of their one year national service, career employment all over Nigeria, thus, promoting the free movement of labour;
(g) that employers are induced partly through their experience with members of the service corps to employ more readily and on a permanent basis, qualified Nigerians, irrespective of their States of origin.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, every Nigerian shall-
(a) if, at the end of the academic year 1972-73 or, as the case may be, at the end of any subsequent academic year, he shall have graduated at any university in Nigeria; or
(b) if, at the end of the academic year 1974-75 or, as the case may be, at the end of any subsequent year, he shall have graduated at any university outside Nigeria; or
(c) if, at the end of the academic year 1975-76 or, as the case may be, at the end of any subsequent year, he shall have obtained the Higher National Diploma or such other professional qualification as may be prescribed; or
(d)
if, at the end of the academic year 1975-76 or, as the case may be, at the end of any subsequent academic year up to the end of the 1983-84 academic year, he shall have obtained the National Certificate of Education,
be under an obligation, unless exempted under section (2) of this section or section 17 of this Act, to make himself available for service for a continuous period of one year from the date specified in the call-up instrument served upon him.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, with effect from 1st August 1985, a person shall not be called upon to serve in the service corps if, at the date of his graduation or obtaining his diploma or other professional qualification-
(a) he is over the age of thirty; or
(b) he has served in the armed forces of the Federation or Nigeria Police Force for a period of more than nine months; or
(c) he is member of staff of any of the following, that is-
(i) the Nigerian Security Organisation; or
(ii) the State Security Service; or
(iii) the National Intelligence Agency; or
(iv) the Defence Intelligence Agency; or
(d) he has been conferred with any National Honour.
(3) A person liable to be called upon to serve in the service corps shall serve for a continuous period of one year as from the date specified in the call-up instrument served upon him or, as the case may be, if a general or special notice to that effect is given in the prescribed manner; and when so called upon, such person shall make himself available for service and shall present himself at such place and time and to such person or authority as may be specified in the instrument or notice.
(4) The President may, by Order published in the Gazette, extend the application of the provisions of subsection (1) of this section to other categories of Nigerians who shall have obtained such diplomas, certificates or other qualifications as may be prescribed in the order from universities, colleges and other institutions of higher learning within or outside Nigeria, and the Order may specify different dates for call-up in relation to different categories of those affected or to be affected by the Order.

(1) There shall be established, a National Directorate, (in this Act referred to as "the Directorate") which shall be the governing body of the service corps.
(2) The Directorate shall have a governing board which shall comprise the following ten members, to be appointed by the President, that is-
(a) a Chairman;
(b) one representative of the committee of Vice-Chancellors;
(c) one representative of the committee of Rectors of Polytechnics;
(d) one representative of the chief of army staff;
(e) one representative of the Inspector-General of Police;
(f) one representative of the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association;
(g) three other persons, one of whom shall be a woman; and
(h) the Director-General.
(3)
A member of the Directorate, other than an *ex officio* member, shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of his appointment and shall be eligible for reappointment for one further term only.

(1) The Directorate shall-
(a) draw up detailed programmes of training and schedules which shall be designed for achieving the objects of the service corps;
(b) ensure that such programmes and schedules are strictly adhered to;
(c) maintain regular contacts with all universities and colleges in Nigeria as necessary;
(d) assign members of the service corps to the programmed work in the States as provided by the Directorate;
(e) co-ordinate the work of the State governing boards in furtherance of the objects of this Act;
(f) assess and review, from time to time, the progress of the service corps;
(g) make and submit all statutory and other reports as may be required of it to the Presidency.
(2) The Directorate may delegate any of its foregoing functions to a State governing board:
Provided that such delegation shall not prevent the Directorate from exercising the functions so delegated.
(3)
Service in the Directorate is hereby declared as approved service within the meaning of the Pensions Act.
(4)
The Directorate shall have power to appoint, (including power to appoint on promotion and transfer and on confirmation of appointments) advance, terminate and discipline employees holding or acting in any offices in the Directorate.

(1) There shall be for the service corps a Director-General who shall be appointed by the President.
(2) The Director shall be the chief executive and shall be charged with the general responsibility for matters affecting the day-to-day running of the service corps.
(3) The Director-General shall be assisted by directors at the National Directorate headquarters and State co-ordinators at the State headquarters.

(1) There is hereby established for each State, a National Youth Service Corps governing board with its office in the office of the Governor of the State (in this Act referred to as "the State governing board").
(2) The State governing board shall be responsible for-
(a) arranging and providing accommodation, boarding, transportation, and providing other facilities which are essential for the welfare of members of the service corps and for the success of the scheme in the State;
(b) assembling reports on members of the service corps and transmitting them to the Directorate;
(c) arranging the provision of facilities for orientation courses and winding-up exercises;
(d) compiling information on such opportunities as there may be for employment in the State;
(e) deploying members of the service corps within the State.
(3)
The State governing board may delegate any of its functions specified in subsection (2) of this section to the National Youth Service Corps Local Government Committee established under section 8 of this Act:
Provided that such delegation shall not prevent the State governing board from exercising the functions so delegated.

(1) The State Governing Board in each State shall consist of the following members, that is-
(a) a chairman who shall be appointed by the State Governor;
(b) a member of the armed forces of the Federation;
(c) a member of the Nigeria Police Force;
(d) five other persons who shall be appointed from among persons concerned with the following sectors of the Nigerian economy at least one of whom shall represent-
(i) commerce and industry;
(ii) agriculture and natural resources;
(iii) local government;
(iv) education; and
(e) the State co-ordinator of the service corps.
(2) All members of the State governing board, with the exception of the State co-ordinator, shall be appointed by the State Governor.
(3) The Governor of a State and the chairman of the State governing board a minimum annual subvention of N500,000 to enable it cater adequately for the welfare needs of corps members deployed to the State and such minimum subvention shall be provided before the commencement of the service year for which it is intended.
(4) Every State Government shall be required to provide such other facilities and contribute to the implementation and achievement of the programmes and projects of the service corps in the State including but not limited to land for agriculture, orientation camps and transportation facilities.

(1) There is hereby established in each local government area of a state, a National Youth Service Corps Local Government Committee (in this Act referred to as "the Committee") with its office in the office of the chairman of the local government.
(2) The members of the Committee shall comprise-
(a) the chairman of the local government as the chairman;
(b) a traditional ruler;
(c) a representative of the Nigeria Police Force;
(d) a representative each of the following Ministries, that is-
(i) education;
(ii) health;
(iii) social welfare and community development;
(e) a representative of the private sector; and
(f) the National Youth Service Corps zonal inspector.
(3) The Committee established by subsection (1) of this section shall have responsibility to-
(a) provide for the welfare needs of corps members deployed to the local government area;
(b) arrange for the collection of corps members at the end of the orientation course and return them for purposes of the winding-up exercise;
(c) assist in the selection of the National Youth Service Corps Honours Award winners at the local government level;
(d) ensure the security of corps members deployed to the local government area;
(e) guide and ensure the effective cultural integration of corps members deployed to the local government area; and
(f) develop and execute integrated programmes for the development and transformation of the local government area through various community development projects.
(4) A local government shall be required to-
(a) make financial provisions in its annual budget for disbursement to the Committee in its area of jurisdiction for purposes of the effective discharge of its functions as specified in this section; and
(b) through the Committee, provide the following, that is-
(i) welfare facilities including transport for the inspection of corps members;
(ii) adequate accommodation; and
(iii) material resources for community development services.
(5) Notwithstanding the establishment of the Committee there is hereby established the State zonal offices (in this Act referred to as "zonal office") which shall-
(a) comprise a number of local government Areas as may be determined from time to time;
(b) be headed by a member of staff of the Directorate to be known as the zonal inspector; and
(c) co-ordinate the activities of the service corps in the zone.

(1) The Directorate shall determine the place and time each person qualified to be registered under the provisions of this Act shall be deployed.
(2) The Directorate shall register each member of the service corps and shall deploy him for national service in the following undertakings and projects, that is in-
(a) hospitals;
(b) road construction;
(c) farming;
(d) water schemes;
(e) surveying and mapping;
(f) social and economic services;
(g) teaching;
(h) food storage and eradication of pests;
(i) rehabilitation of destitutes and the disabled;
(j) development of sports;
(k) all government departments and statutory corporations suitable for new graduates;
(l) development projects of local councils;
(m) the private sector of the Nigerian economy; and
(n) such other undertakings and projects as the President may, by order, determine.
(3) For the purposes of this section, priority shall be given to service in any of the undertakings or projects mentioned in subsection (2) of this section situated within such appropriate urban or rural areas of the Federation as may be selected by the Directorate.
(4) Before placing any member of the service corps in any of the undertakings or projects aforementioned, the Directorate shall take into consideration the qualifications of each member, vacancies then existing, and priorities of national needs.
(5) In the discharge of its functions under this section, the Directorate shall not be compelled in any manner whatsoever to deploy a member of the service corps to any particular undertaking or project.
(6) An employer of corps members, whether in the private or public sector, pursuant to the provisions of this section, shall be required to expose the corps members to gainful working experience.

(1) The Directorate shall cause quarterly returns and reports on each member of the service corps to be compiled by such officers including training officers as it may designate.
(2) The quarterly reports of each member of the service corps shall show-
(a) the extent of his interest in the undertaking or project;
(b) the degree of comradeship he engenders amongst his fellow members and the people within the community he is serving or has served;
(c) industry at work, resourcefulness and initiative;
(d) character, address, temperament and integrity;
(e) leadership and readiness to accept responsibility;
(f) special contributions to the host community; and
(g) any other information which may assist in evaluating the character of each member of the service corps.

The Directorate shall, on completion of the service of a member of the service corps unless such person is exempted under section 17 of this Act, issue him with a Certificate of National Service which shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed.

(1) For the purposes of employment anywhere in the Federation and before employment, it shall be the duty of every prospective employer to demand and obtain from any person who claims to have obtained his first year degree at the end of the academic year 1973-74 or, as the case may be, at the end of any subsequent academic year the following-
(a) a copy of the Certificate of National Service of such person issued pursuant to section 11 of this Act;
(b) a copy of any exemption certificate issued to such person pursuant to section 17 of this Act; and
(c) such other particulars relevant thereto as may be prescribed by or under this Act.
(2) It shall also be the duty of every employer to produce on demand to a police officer, not below the rank of an Assistant Superintendent of Police, any such certificate and particulars or copies thereof.

(1) Any person-
(a) who fails to report for service in the service corps in the manner directed by the Directorate or as the case may be, prescribed pursuant to the provisions of this Act; or
(b)
who refuses to make himself available for service in the service corps continuously for the period specified in subsection (2) of this section,
is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N2,000 or to imprisonment for a term of twelve months or to both such fine and imprisonment.
(2) Any person who-
(a) under the provisions of this Act is not eligible to participate in the service corps so participates or attempts to so participate is guilty of an offence; or
(b)
having served in the service corps and has been duly issued with a Certificate of National Service or certificate of exemption, as the case may be, and is not eligible to serve under the same service corps so participates or attempts to so participate is guilty of an offence,
and liable on conviction to a fine of N4,000 or to imprisonment for a term of two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
(3) Any person who fails to comply with or who contravenes or causes or aids or abets another to contravene any provision of this Act (not being a provision relating to the calling up of members of the service corps) is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N5,000 or to imprisonment for a term of three years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
(4) Any person who-
(a)
in giving any information for the purposes of this Act knowingly or recklessly makes a statement which is false; or
(b) forges or uses or lends to or allows to be used other than in the manner provided by this Act by any other person any certificate issued pursuant to the provisions of this Act; or
(c)
makes, or has in his possession any document so closely resembling any certificate so issued as to be calculated to deceive,
is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of 5,000 or to imprisonment for a term of three years or to both such fine and imprisonment
(5) Where an offence under subsection (3) of this section which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other official of the body corporate, or any person purporting to act in such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

Any person who, not being a person serving in the service corps or duly authorised so to do, wears the uniform or any part of the uniform of the service corps is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N1,000 or to imprisonment for a term of six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(1) The Directorate shall prepare and submit to the Minister not later than 31st December in every year an estimate of its expenditure and income during the next succeeding year.
(2) The Directorate shall keep proper accounts in respect of each year, and proper records in relation to those accounts and shall cause the accounts to be audited as soon as may be after the end of the year to which the accounts relate by a firm of auditors appointed from the list of auditors and in accordance with guidelines supplied by the Auditor-General for the Federation.
(3) The Directorate shall prepare and submit to the Presidency not later than 30th June in each year, a report in such form as the Presidency may direct on the activities of the Directorate during the previous year, and shall include in the report, a copy of the audited accounts of the Directorate for the previous year and of the auditor's report on those accounts.
(4) The President shall cause a copy of the report made under this section to be laid before the National Defence and Security Council.

(1) The President may make such regulations as may be necessary or expedient for the purposes of achieving the objects of this Act, and in particular, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions-
(a) for the proper functioning and conduct of the work of the service corps;
(b) setting out the programmes and schedules for the training of the members of the service corps;
(c) specifying the procedure for call-up and the manner in which notification of call-up shall be made to members and prospective members thereof;
(d) for providing funds for the use of the Directorate;
(e) for the procedure for determining the medical fitness or otherwise of persons to be called up and the manner in which such matter shall be determined; and
(f) other matters (unless it is otherwise provided expressly) required to be prescribed by this Act.
(2) The Directorate may, with the approval of the President, make bye-laws for the proper administration of the service corps, and in particular-
(a) governing the pay, remuneration, allowances and other emoluments and expenses of the persons affected; and
(b) in relation to the general discipline, control and welfare of members of the service corps.

(1)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Directorate may, with the prior approval of the National Defence and Security Council, by an order published in the *Gazette* exempt any person from all or any of the provisions of this Act, and may subject thereto and with such approval impose, in relation to any exemption, such conditions as it may think fit.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section and with the approval of the National Defence and Security Council, the Directorate may, on being satisfied that there is reasonable cause for so doing by an order, defer the calling-up of any person or category of persons liable to be called up for service in the service corps for such period as may be specified in the order, and may subject to such approval reduce or extend the period of service specified in section 2 of this Act in relation to the service of any person or category of persons liable to be called up.
(3) Where an order is made for an exemption of any person it shall be the duty of the Directorate to issue to that person a certificate of exemption in the prescribed form, and for the purposes of this section, where the service of any person in the service corps is deferred or where the period of service is extended or reduced, as the case may be, pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, a certificate of exemption setting out such particulars or the prescribed particulars shall be issued to such person.

(1) An employer of corps members shall, in determining the seniority of and the salary or other remuneration, pension and gratuity payable to a graduate who has completed a period of service corps and been duly discharged therefrom, take account of that period of service, and such salary or other remuneration, pension and gratuity shall not be less than that normally due to a graduate in comparable employment for the same period as the duration of the first mentioned graduate's service in the service corps.
(2) An employer of corps members shall provide the following, that is-
(a)
basic accommodation and where it is not available, pay the minimum sum of N250 per month *in lie*u of accommodation;
(b) all welfare facilities normally provided for the regular staff including medical service; and
(c)
transport or where it is not available, pay the minimum sum of N150 per month *in lieu* of transport.

The Public Officers Protection Act shall apply to every member of the service corps and to any other person employed under any undertaking or project for the duration of his service in the service corps.

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 19 of this Act any person aggrieved by any decision of the Directorate or by the exercise by the Directorate of any power under this Act shall have the right of appeal to the Presidency in the first instance and the Presidency may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act and subject to the approval of the National Defence and Security Council confirm or reverse the decision of the Directorate or take such further measures in relation to the appeal as he may think just before any action may be commenced in any court of law in Nigeria.

(1)
The National Youth Service Corps Act is hereby repealed.
[Cap. 285. L.F.N. 1990.]
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section-
(a) all the amendments to the repealed enactment and all the subsidiary instruments made thereunder shall be deemed to have been made under this Act; and
(b) any call up letter, register kept, registration effected, certificate issued, notice given, return made or thing done under the repealed enactment which immediately before the date of commencement of this Act was in force or effect shall continue in force and have effect as if made, kept, effected, issued, given, made or done under the corresponding provisions of this Act; and
(c) any form used and the requirement as to the particulars to be entered in any form for the purposes of the repealed enactment which was in force or effect immediately before the date of commencement of this Act shall continue in force and have effect as things prescribed under this Act with forms or particulars so prescribed.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
"academic year" means the year of graduation;
"Committee" means the National Youth Service Corps Local Government Committee established by section 8 of this Act;
"Directorate" means the body established by section 3 of this Act;
"membership of the Directorate" means the membership as provided for by section 3 of this Act;
"member of the service corps" means a person registered as a member of the service corps;
"Minister" means the Minister charged with responsibility for youth development and
"Ministry" shall be construed accordingly;
"service corps" means the National Youth Service Corps established by section 1 of this Act;
"State governing board" means the National Youth Service Corps governing board established by section 6 of this Act;
"State committee" means a National Youth Service Corps local government Committee set up under section 6 of this Act;
(2) For the purposes of this Act, the reference to a "member of the service corps" includes, unless the context otherwise requires or it is otherwise expressly provided, a prospective member of the service corps or any person who is registered as a member.

This Act may be cited as the National Youth Service Corps Act.