The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the federal government to suspend the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme until the security situation in the country improves.
The group also demanded the immediate discharge of the 20 corps members recently released after spending one week in kidnappers’ captivity in Imo State, with their NYSC discharge certificates and compensation equivalent to their allowances for the 2026/2027 service year.
The executive director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made the demands on Friday, citing persistent insecurity and the risks faced by corps members serving in different parts of the country.
In a statement, Akintola said the group was grateful for the safe release of the 20 corps members and congratulated their parents.
“While we do not want to dwell on the controversy surrounding the circumstances of their release or rescue, we thank Almighty Allah for the safety of the young corps members. We also congratulate their parents,” he said.
The group, however, said the incident had raised concerns about the safety of corps members and the ability of the government to protect young Nigerians participating in the national service scheme.
MURIC said insecurity remained the scheme’s greatest challenge, arguing that corps members should not be exposed to traumatic experiences arising from kidnapping and banditry.
“We cannot but conclude that the scheme’s greatest challenge is insecurity. We are of the opinion that our young ones do not deserve this punishment,” Akintola said.
He added that the federal government had a responsibility to protect corps members, describing the government’s role as being in loco parentis.
“However, in view of the apparent inability to do this, at least presently, we demand the suspension of the NYSC scheme until the federal government is able to take full control of the security situation in the country,” he said.
MURIC further demanded that the 20 freed corps members be discharged immediately and issued their NYSC discharge certificates.
The group also called for payment of allowances equivalent to the full 2026/2027 service year as compensation for their ordeal in captivity.