The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has revealed that corps members deployed to Lagos State contribute an estimated ₦14 billion annually to the state’s economy through their activities, service, and consumer spending.
The disclosure was made by the Lagos State NYSC Coordinator during a stakeholders’ forum in Ikeja, where government officials, employers, and private sector representatives gathered to review the scheme’s impact on the state. According to the Coordinator, the financial injection comes from corps members’ allowances, stipends, and wages, as well as their expenditure on accommodation, feeding, transportation, and other services during their one-year mandatory service.
> “Every year, corps members stationed across Lagos inject billions into the local economy through their daily needs and community development projects. Beyond the monetary value, their skills, manpower, and volunteer efforts strengthen the state’s workforce and social development,” the Coordinator said.
Analysts say the NYSC’s impact is particularly visible in sectors such as education, healthcare, ICT, and agriculture, where corps members are routinely deployed to fill critical manpower gaps. In Lagos, many schools, hospitals, and businesses rely on the annual influx of graduates to bridge staffing shortages, especially in underserved communities.
The NYSC also emphasized that beyond financial contributions, corps members have been instrumental in community development through projects that improve access to education, sanitation, and health services. In recent years, youth corps members in Lagos have constructed boreholes, renovated schools, organized literacy classes, and conducted public health campaigns.
The Lagos State Government has welcomed the figures, describing corps members as “vital contributors to the state’s socio-economic growth.” Officials noted that the annual ₦14 billion injection underscores the importance of sustaining and strengthening the NYSC scheme, even amid debates about its relevance in today’s economy.
Stakeholders further urged the government to expand opportunities for corps members in entrepreneurship and digital skills development, so that their impact extends beyond service year into long-term wealth creation.
Since its establishment in 1973, the NYSC has deployed millions of Nigerian graduates to various parts of the country to promote unity, foster national integration, and provide temporary manpower support in key sectors. Lagos, being the nation’s commercial hub, attracts a high number of corps members annually, making its economic footprint particularly significant.
With youth unemployment still a pressing challenge, experts argue that the NYSC’s contributions—both financial and developmental—should be better leveraged to strengthen Nigeria’s economy while addressing critical social needs.
