NYSC 2026
Complete Guide
Everything about the National Youth Service Corps — portal registration, call-up letters, state posting, PPA, CDS, monthly allowance and discharge certificate. Official links and step-by-step guides.
of Nigeria
ℹ️ What is NYSC?
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a mandatory one-year national service programme established by the Nigerian government in 1973 under Decree No. 51. It is compulsory for all Nigerian graduates under 30 years of age who attended Nigerian universities, as well as Nigerian graduates from foreign institutions who are under 30 years old.
The programme aims to develop common ties among Nigerian youths, promote national unity and integration, and prepare graduates for the work environment. Corps members are typically posted to states different from their state of origin.
The service year consists of three phases:
- Orientation Camp (3 weeks) — military-style orientation at a state camp
- Primary Assignment (10 months) — serving at a Place of Primary Assignment (PPA)
- Passing Out (1 month) — final activities, community development and discharge
🌐 NYSC Portal
📝 How to Register on the NYSC Portal
Visit the Official Portal
Go to portal.nysc.org.ng. Click "Mobilization" then "Registration." Do not use any other website.
Create an Account
Enter your institution, matriculation number, graduation year and course of study. You will need a valid email address and phone number for OTP verification.
Upload Required Documents
Upload a clear passport photograph (white background), your institution certificate or statement of result, and your birth certificate or age declaration.
State Preference Selection
You will be given the option to indicate state preferences. Note: you will NOT be posted to your state of origin. Preferences are considered but not guaranteed.
Print Call-Up Letter
After successful registration, wait for NYSC to upload your call-up letter. Log back in and download it. Your call-up letter contains your state of deployment and orientation camp details.
Report to Orientation Camp
Report to the designated orientation camp in your posted state on the date shown on your call-up letter. Bring originals of all documents.
📄 Documents Required for NYSC Camp
- Original call-up letter (printed from portal)
- School certificate (degree certificate or statement of result)
- NYSC Mobilization Form
- Birth certificate or age declaration (sworn affidavit)
- Medical certificate of fitness (from a government hospital)
- Valid means of identification (National ID, International Passport or Voter's Card)
- 6 recent passport photographs (white background)
- Bank Verification Number (BVN) — for allowance payment setup
- Opening of dedicated bank account (most banks have NYSC schemes)
- Minimum of 2 sets of plain white T-shirts and white shorts for camp
📍 How to Check Your NYSC Posting
Log in to the NYSC Portal
Visit portal.nysc.org.ng and log in with your registered email and password.
Click "Check Posting"
Navigate to the Posting section in your dashboard. Your state of deployment and orientation camp address will be displayed.
Download Your Call-Up Letter
Download and print multiple copies of your call-up letter. You will need it at the camp gate, for your PPA and for NYSC records.
📅 NYSC 2026 Batch Schedule
💰 NYSC Allowance & Payments 2026
Corps members receive a monthly federal government stipend called the NYSC allowance (commonly called "allawee"). As of 2026, the official monthly allowance is ₦77,000 per month, paid directly to your NYSC dedicated bank account.
Some state governments and PPAs pay additional allowances on top of the federal stipend. Lagos State, Rivers State, Anambra and several others are known for paying supplementary allowances to corps members serving in their states.
| Payment Component | Amount | Paid By | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Government Allowance | ₦77,000 | FG / NYSC | Monthly |
| State Government Top-Up (varies) | ₦5,000–₦30,000 | State Government | Monthly (select states) |
| PPA Allowance (private sector) | Varies | Employer / PPA | Monthly |
| Leave Allowance | ₦6,750 | FG / NYSC | Once (mid-year) |
🤝 Community Development Service (CDS)
Every corps member must participate in Community Development Service (CDS) every Thursday (CDS day) throughout the service year. CDS groups are organised by skill or interest area and carry out projects that benefit the local community.
Types of CDS groups include:
- Health and Medical CDS
- Education CDS (teaching, literacy)
- Agriculture and Environment CDS
- Legal Aid CDS
- ICT and Technology CDS
- Sports and Culture CDS
- Civil Defence and Security CDS
Attendance is compulsory. Missing CDS without permission results in a query and can affect your ability to pass out. You need to accumulate the required CDS points to be eligible for the discharge certificate.
🏛 Place of Primary Assignment (PPA)
Your Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) is where you work during your service year — schools, hospitals, government ministries, NGOs, private companies or federal institutions that have accepted NYSC corps members.
Types of PPAs:
- Government institutions — federal and state ministries, agencies, hospitals, schools
- Private sector — registered companies and firms approved by NYSC
- NGOs and international organisations — UN agencies, development organisations
- Teaching — many corps members are posted to public secondary schools
- Obtain a rejection letter from an unwanted PPA (if they reject you) OR a letter from your preferred PPA accepting you
- Submit the letter with a formal application to your Local Government Inspector (LGI)
- The LGI forwards to the State Coordinator's office for approval
- If approved, a reposting letter is issued — report to new PPA immediately
🏅 NYSC Discharge Certificate
The NYSC Discharge Certificate is the official document confirming successful completion of the mandatory one-year service. It is required for employment in all federal government positions, most state government jobs and many private sector organisations.
Requirements to qualify for discharge certificate:
- Complete full 12 months of service from camp start date
- Maintain satisfactory attendance at PPA (supervisor's report)
- Attend all CDS sessions and meet CDS point requirements
- No unresolved disciplinary queries or court martial proceedings
- Complete the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme
- Attend the Passing Out Parade (POP)
If you are exempted from NYSC service (age above 30 at graduation, or serving in the military/police), you will receive an NYSC Exclusion Certificate instead. Apply through the portal under "Exemption" with proof of age.
All Nigerian graduates under 30 years of age at graduation are required to complete NYSC. This includes graduates of Nigerian universities, polytechnics (HND), Colleges of Education (NCE), and Nigerians who graduated from foreign institutions. Graduates who are 30 years or older at the time of graduation may apply for an Exclusion Certificate.
No. Corps members are deliberately posted to states other than their state of origin. This is a core policy of NYSC, designed to promote national unity and integration. You may indicate a state preference but the final decision rests with NYSC management. If posted to a state you find extremely difficult for medical or family reasons, you may apply for redeployment after camp.
Failing to complete NYSC has serious consequences in Nigeria. You cannot be employed in any federal government position or most state government jobs. Many banks, oil companies and major corporations require a discharge certificate as a condition of employment. You may also be reported to NYSC as an absconder, which creates a permanent record. There is no legal route to bypass NYSC for eligible graduates.
Yes. Deferment is allowed in limited circumstances: postgraduate studies (MSc, PhD) within or outside Nigeria, medical grounds (with a certified government hospital letter), or pregnancy. Apply through your institution's IT department before mobilization closes. Deferment is typically for one service year and must be re-applied each cycle if needed.
The current NYSC federal allowance is ₦77,000 per month. Some state governments pay additional top-up amounts on top of this. Corps members at private sector PPAs may also receive supplementary pay from their employer. The leave allowance is ₦6,750 paid once during the service year.
Orientation camp lasts 3 weeks (21 days). During camp, corps members participate in military drills, lectures on Nigerian history and civic life, sports competitions, cultural displays and practical skill sessions. After camp, you proceed to your Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) for the remaining 10 months of service.
Essentials include: your call-up letter (multiple printed copies), school certificate/statement of result, birth certificate, medical certificate of fitness, 6 passport photographs, valid ID, BVN, 2 white T-shirts and white shorts, warm clothing (camps can be cold at night), toiletries, a torch/power bank, and enough cash for the first two weeks before your first allowance is paid.
Your PPA assignment is your primary commitment during service hours. However, many corps members engage in personal businesses, freelance work or skills development outside PPA hours and CDS days. This is not prohibited. Some corps members run successful businesses alongside their service year, particularly through the NYSC SAED (Skills Acquisition) programme.
If your original discharge certificate is lost or damaged, apply for a duplicate at the NYSC state secretariat where you served. You will need: a sworn affidavit of loss, a police report (for lost certificates), two passport photographs, and payment of the official replacement fee. The process takes 4-8 weeks. Duplicate certificates are issued with a 'Duplicate' stamp and are equally valid.