NYSC Speaks On N200 Mobilisation Levy

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has distanced itself from reports linking payment of a proposed N200 annual levy by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to the mobilisation of students for the national service scheme.

This rebuttal followed comments by the NANS National President, Akinteye Babatunde, who suggested that payment of the association’s annual dues could become a requirement for students seeking mobilisation for the NYSC programme.

However, the NYSC, in a statement issued by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, said it had neither discussed nor agreed to any arrangement with NANS on the collection of a levy from students as a condition for mobilisation.

“The NYSC wishes to state unequivocally that it has not, at any time, discussed, agreed to, or entered into any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) regarding the collection of any levy from students in connection with mobilisation for national service” the statement partly reads.

According to the scheme, its mobilisation process is conducted strictly through established official channels and is based on policies and procedures approved by the Federal Government.

The NYSC explained that the process involves collaboration between its management and the Heads of Corps Producing Institutions, who are responsible for submitting the required information on eligible graduates for mobilisation.

It stressed that the process was neither linked to nor dependent on the activities of student associations or organisations.

“Consequently, members of the public, particularly Prospective Corps Members and students, are advised to disregard any information suggesting that payment of a levy to NANS or any other association is a requirement for NYSC mobilisation,” the statement added.

The development came after the NANS president disclosed plans to overhaul the collection of the association’s annual dues, which he said stood at N200 per student.

Babatunde had, in a Facebook post, said NANS would work with the NYSC and indicated that proof of payment of the association’s dues could be required for students to be mobilised for camp.

He wrote, “We will be working with NYSC and one of the criteria to be mobilised for camp is NANS dues receipt.”

While explaining the proposal in a video posted on Monday, Babatunde said NANS was considering moving away from the existing system in which dues were collected through student union governments and institutional managements.

He said the association wanted to establish a mechanism through which students would pay the N200 annual dues directly to NANS.

“This is not an avenue to stress the students further because the due is as low as 200 Naira per student in a year, 200 Naira one year per student,” he said.

According to him, the funds would be distributed among the different structures of NANS, including zonal and state structures as well as affiliated student bodies.

Babatunde claimed that the association had faced financial difficulties because of the declining access of student union governments to dues collected from students.

He alleged that between 80 and 90 per cent of SUGs were no longer in control of their dues, with some institutions allegedly releasing only a fraction of the money collected.

He cited the University of Benin as an example, alleging that its management frustrated the SUG’s efforts to access its dues after the union opposed an increase in school fees.

“One of the ways to cripple the organisation is to make it lack funds, to be short of funds,” Babatunde said.

He maintained that despite its financial challenges, NANS had continued to visit campuses and intervene in cases involving students.

The NANS president argued that the organisation needed a reliable source of funding to remain effective and independent.

“How can you feel the impact correctly, if you are not putting your money where your mouth is? This is an organisation for all of us,” he said.

Babatunde further argued that direct collection of dues would reduce NANS’ dependence on politicians and government officials, which he said could compromise the association’s ability to confront government agencies when students’ interests were affected.

“How do you want people to run to politicians or government to seek their support and when they have issues with the agencies, they still want to stand and fight those agencies?” he asked.

He said NANS was considering collaboration with agencies connected to students to establish a platform for direct payment of the dues to the organisation.

“We are going towards [agencies] to cooperate with to get this due directly to the organisation, no more to the management, no more to the SUGs, but directly to the organisation,” he said.

Babatunde said the association would amend its laws and develop proposals to provide institutional backing for the new collection system.

He also disclosed that NANS had received thousands of complaints from students, arguing that stronger finances were needed to respond effectively to such cases.

“When I speak to you, I have about 3,000, 4,000 emails of student complaints. Genuine complaints,” he said.

He added that NANS had previously spent funds responding to student emergencies, including cases involving kidnapped students, while also incurring expenses from accidents involving its buses.

“Where are those money coming from? Organisation that does not have dues,” he said.

However, the NYSC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a transparent and credible mobilisation process, urging students and prospective corps members to rely only on official information concerning mobilisation.

“The Scheme remains committed to maintaining a transparent, credible and efficient mobilisation process in accordance with extant government policies and guidelines,” the NYSC stated.