The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Oluseye Nafiu, has urged the Scheme’s legal officers to uphold integrity and strictly adhere to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) while handling requests for official information.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 NYSC Legal Officers Capacity Enhancement Training on the Freedom of Information Act and the Cybercrimes Act in Abuja, Nafiu described the FOIA as a vital instrument for promoting transparency and accountability in public administration.
The training, held at Bolingo Hotel, Abuja, is themed “Building Institutional Resilience Through Legal Excellence and Digital Compliance.”
The NYSC Director-General noted that the Scheme frequently receives requests from employers, organisations and individuals seeking sensitive records of former Corps Members, stressing that legal officers must be well-versed in the provisions of the FOIA to ensure that information is disclosed appropriately and within the law.
He urged participants to provide sound legal advice and professional interpretation of relevant laws to support the Management in carrying out its responsibilities effectively.
In his welcome address, the NYSC Director of Legal Services, Barrister Christopher Ogar, said legal officers must remain proactive, knowledgeable and responsive in the face of growing cybersecurity threats and rapid technological advancements.
According to him, the responsibilities of legal officers extend beyond offering legal advice to ensuring compliance with extant laws, managing litigation, drafting sound legal documents and promoting accountability across the Scheme’s operations.
Ogar said the training would equip participants with practical knowledge on the Freedom of Information Act, Cybercrimes Act, data privacy and other emerging legal issues to improve service delivery.
He explained that under the FOIA Act 2011, Corps Members and their parents are entitled to request information about NYSC operations, making it essential for legal officers to understand what information can be disclosed, what should be exempted and the timelines for responding to such requests.
He also urged participants to strengthen their capacity to identify cybercrime incidents involving Corps Members, preserve digital evidence and apply the relevant legal principles throughout the NYSC service cycle, from registration to passing-out.
The training features resource persons from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Federal Ministry of Justice and private data analysis firms, who are expected to provide participants with practical insights into legal compliance, digital governance and cybersecurity.
