NYSC Registration: Steps, Do’s, and Don’ts

NYSC registration is compulsory for every graduate in Nigeria. You must serve your father nation.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a program established by the Nigerian government under the military administration to engage Nigerian graduates in nation-building and development.

Although there is no military conscription in Nigeria, graduates of universities and subsequently polytechnics have been obliged to participate in the National Youth Service Corps program for one year since 1973.

This is known as the national service year.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was established on May 22, 1973, as a means of facilitating national healing, rehabilitation, and rebuilding following the civil war.

It was founded in accordance with Decree No. 24, which stated that the program was established “with a view to the correct stimulation and development of bonds with Nigerian youths and the promotion of national unity”

To be eligible to engage in the mandatory one-year service, a graduate must be under or above the age of 30 at the time of graduation, or else he or she will be issued a Certificate of Exemption, which is also comparable to the NYSC Discharge Certificate.

A graduate who graduated before the age of 30 but skipped the service year is still qualified since his certificate of graduation was issued before the age of 30.

NYSC registration is mandatory in the sense that graduates cannot request an exemption unless they are incapacitated, have served in the military or paramilitary for more than one year, or are above a certain age.

How do you register for NYSC

To register, prospective corps members must have a valid and functional email address as well as a Nigerian (GSM) phone number.

A correct jamb and matriculation number are also required for locally trained graduates. Foreign-trained prospective corps members should ensure that their institutions are accredited.

Also, if they are trained in non-English speaking countries they are expected to translate their certificates to English before uploading. It is also vital to know that proxy registration are not permitted.

What will happen if you don’t do NYSC?

Without NYSC you’re not eligible to work in government cooperation and some private ones unless you’ve been exempted (i.e if you have a physical disability or you graduated above 30)

You might not need NYSC if you’re not going to apply for jobs or be in a political position.

NYSC is not necessary when you plan to start your own business.

The best thing NYSC does for you is that it’s an addition to your experience as you would have the opportunity to meet with other people and learn about their cultures.

By this point alone, I recommend you do NYSC, a good network will do a lot for you.

How much is the registration for NYSC?

Registration for NYSC is free but you have to pay for the call-up number.

NYSC call-up number cost is two thousand, five hundred Naira (2,500), while the cyber cafe charges may vary from 1,000 – 1500 naira.

Therefore, you should budget 5000 for your NYSC registration process.

Must you register for NYSC in a cybercafe?

Thumb scanning is a crucial part of NYSC registration and a thumb scan is mostly available in cyber cafes. Unless you have a thumb scan at home, registering for NYSC in a cyber cafe is most appropriate.

Steps to follow for NYSC registration

1. Make sure your school’s Senate/Academic board sent your name to the NYSC office

2. Go to  NYSC registration portal via; https://portal.nysc.org.ng/nysc1/

3. Create an account.

4. Log in to your dashboard and fill out the NYSC biodata form.

5. Upload all documents required.

6. Thumbprint for biometrics confirmation/verification.

7. Submit your NYSC application.

8. Print out your NYSC Registration slip afterward.

9. Then, wait for NYSC Call-Up Letter.

Things to note while registering for NYSC

1. Information on accredited registration centers nationwide is available on the NYSC official pages; www.nysc.org.ng, www.nysc.gov.ng.

2. If you paid for the online registration during the previous Mobilization process but were not mobilized, you would need not to pay again

3. It will take one week for all Corps Producing Institutions to post the Senate/Academic Board list, and it will take four (4) weeks for potential corps members (both locally and internationally trained) to apply. 

4. Only corps members who were mobilized in a prior NYSC batch but failed to report for duty are needed to do NYSC registration for remobilization.

5. ‘Registration for Revalidation’ is required only for corps members that have been deployed in a previous NYSC batch but did not go to camp.

6. Prospective Corps members should ensure that they have functional e-mail addresses that they can access and Nigerian (GSM) telephone numbers with which to register

7. For locally-trained graduates, only those whose names appear in the Senate/Academic board approved result lists submitted by their institutions will have access to register on the NYSC registration portal and they are expected to use correct institution matriculation numbers to register

8. Foreign-trained prospective corps members should ensure that their Institutions are accredited. If in doubt, they should approach the Federal Ministry of Education for verification. They must come with their credentials for evaluation on camp; there is no need for physical evaluation before camp. They can pay for the NYSC registration on arrival to the country if they could not pay when they register outside the country.

9. All graduates of Medicine and Pharmacy are expected to have their Certificates of Registration with the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (NMDCN) and Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) respectively.

Payment receipts are not acceptable

10. The passport photograph used should meet the following specifications:

• Ensure your face (eyes, nose, ears, mouth, and jaw) is fully shown without bending
• The picture should be centralized and fill the frame
• Photo background shoul be white or off-white with no shadow.
• Size of the photo should be 2×2 passport size
• Photo is validated.

11. Only prospective corps members who want their call-up numbers sent to them through SMS and wish to print their call-up letters online are expected to pay the sum of Three Thousand Naira (N3,000)

12. Prospective Corps members who do not want to pay the N3,000 have the option of going to their schools to collect their call-up numbers and call-up letter. Foreign-trained students can collect theirs from the headquarters in Abuja if they opt out of paying the N3,000.

13. The orientation camps are not ideal for pregnant and nursing mothers. Prospective corps members in this category are therefore to note that they will not be accommodated

14. If you’re married and you have no desire to be separated from your spouse, you should upload the following documents; marriage certificate, evidence of change of name, and a document showing your spouse’s place of residence.

The Do’s and Dont’s of NYSC Registration

1. Do not present a fake document. Anybody who presents any fake document will be demobilized and decamped.
2. Nobody can register for anybody. Also, note that the fingerprint used in the registration would be used to clear you before camp
3. You don’t apply for exemption certificates, they would be given to you
4. Do not forget the username and password you use for registration
5. Do not thumbprint by proxy
6. Use the correct email address and phone number
7. Use the correct Matric number to register

Conclusion on NYSC Registration

In conclusion, Registering for NYSC is not a hard nut to crack if you follow the procedures; create an account, log in to your account, submit the necessary documents then wait for your call-up letter. Just do the needful and you’re good to go.