The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, has warned corps members against cyberbullying and irresponsible use of social media, saying violators risk arrest and prosecution.
Speaking during an interview in Abuja, Nafiu said corps members are not above the law and must comply with Nigeria’s cybercrime and social media regulations throughout their service year.
“The fact that they are corps members does not absolve them from being citizens bound by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“If someone says you cyberbullied him or her, the police will arrest you with your NYSC identity card and you will bear that responsibility,” he said.
The NYSC boss stressed that the scheme would not provide legal representation for corps members facing criminal or civil cases linked to their online activities.
According to him, the NYSC only collaborates with the Legal Aid Council to monitor cases and provide support where necessary.
Nafiu said the scheme had intensified sensitisation campaigns to educate corps members on responsible social media engagement amid rising concerns over online misconduct.
“The rule of the game has changed. You cannot just go online calling out people because someone can accuse you of cyberbullying,” he stated.
He, however, clarified that the scheme was not against content creation, noting that many corps members, especially from Generation Z, are actively involved in digital content production.
“We know this generation loves content creation, and we are not against content, but there must be proper context and responsible engagement,” he added.
On election duties, Nafiu described corps members’ participation as ad hoc staff during elections as a noble service to the nation and a contribution to credible democratic processes.
He also commended First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for donating mobile clinics to support the scheme’s healthcare outreach programmes in rural communities.
According to him, the mobile clinics have improved access to consultations, scans and basic medical tests in underserved areas.
