The Corpers’ Journey Advocacy Network (CJAN) has urged the Federal Government and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to make the provision of safe and decent accommodation a top priority for corps members nationwide.
In a statement issued by its Managing Director, Taiwo Ajayi, the group stressed that the wellbeing of corps members must remain central to NYSC’s mission. He pointed out that poor housing conditions have become one of the most pressing challenges confronting young Nigerians during their one-year mandatory national service.
Ajayi revealed that findings from several states indicate that many corps members are abandoned to source accommodation on their own. As a result, some end up living in overcrowded hostels, dilapidated buildings, or unsafe rented apartments conditions that expose them to health hazards, insecurity, and declining morale at their primary places of assignment.
“Corps members are national assets dedicating a year of their lives to serve Nigeria,” Ajayi noted. “It is the duty of both NYSC and the Federal Government to guarantee them decent housing, electricity, clean water, and basic amenities. Anything short of this undermines the value of their service to the nation.”
He proposed that the government should establish a clear and enforceable housing policy for corps members, leveraging partnerships with host communities, local councils, and private investors to build or renovate standard lodges dedicated to their use.
The CJAN boss further emphasized the importance of monitoring and ensuring that schools, hospitals, and organizations accepting corps members actually fulfill their accommodation pledges.
Ajayi admitted that economic constraints exist but insisted that welfare investment for corps members translates into national development.
“Suitable housing is not a luxury it is a necessity,” he stressed. “When corps members feel safe and respected, they are motivated to contribute meaningfully to the communities they serve. This must be addressed before the next NYSC batch deployment.”
