The Reform NYSC Coalition, a non-partisan advocacy group dedicated to improving the welfare of corps members, upgrading orientation camp infrastructure, and strengthening the National Youth Service Corps as a vehicle for national unity and development, has welcomed Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s decision to renovate facilities at the state’s NYSC camp.

The coalition, which engages governments, NYSC management, and stakeholders on policy reforms, camp standards, and corps members’ conditions of service, described the governor’s move as a positive example other states should follow.

In a statement signed by Comrade Francis Nwogu on behalf of the group and released on Wednesday, the coalition said improved camp facilities would enhance orientation quality, protect the health of young graduates, and reinforce the scheme’s role in bridging Nigeria’s ethnic, cultural, and regional divides.

It noted that many orientation camps across the country still suffer from overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate amenities that undermine the programme’s objectives.

“We commend His Excellency, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, for listening to the long-standing calls for improved infrastructure at the NYSC camp in Katsina. This decision demonstrates leadership that understands the critical role of the National Youth Service Corps in nation-building,” the statement said.

“We urge all governors across the 36 states and the FCT to emulate this example by fixing dilapidated orientation camps in their domains. Corps members deserve decent accommodation, functional facilities, and a conducive environment that reflects the dignity of national service.”

The Reform NYSC Coalition further highlighted the contributions of corps members to education, healthcare, and community development, especially in rural areas facing shortages of doctors, nurses, and teachers of core subjects.

It stressed that sustained investment in camp infrastructure would reduce health risks, raise morale, and make the one-year service more productive for both the volunteers and their host communities.

According to the group, the NYSC remains one of Nigeria’s most important platforms for fostering tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Better living and training conditions at orientation camps, it argued, would complement the hospitality already shown by states such as Katsina and encourage greater commitment from the hundreds of thousands of graduates mobilised each year.

According to the group, the NYSC can’t do it alone, hence state governments must step up to compliment the efforts of the Federal Government.

“Governor Radda’s intervention is not just about buildings; it is about valuing the lives and service of thousands of young Nigerians who leave their homes every year to contribute to the development of host communities,” Comrade Nwogu stated.

“We call on the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and individual state executives to treat NYSC camps as priority infrastructure. A modern, well-maintained camp is a direct investment in national cohesion and human capital development.

“We appreciate the hospitality of the people of Katsina and the peaceful atmosphere that has allowed the NYSC to operate without panic. This partnership between state governments and the scheme must be strengthened through tangible infrastructural support,” the coalition added.

“Every state that upgrades its NYSC camp sends a clear message that it values the corps members who teach in its schools, serve in its health centres, and contribute to its local economy.

“We hope this becomes a nationwide standard rather than an isolated example.”

The Reform NYSC Coalition reaffirmed its commitment to constructive advocacy for continuous reform of the National Youth Service Corps, including better camp standards, improved welfare, and stronger collaboration between the NYSC and state governments.

It also pledged to keep engaging relevant authorities until orientation camps across Nigeria meet acceptable levels of comfort, safety, and functionality.

In the same vein, the coalition applauded the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, for his steady leadership and proactive engagement with state governments.

His recent visit to Katsina, where he highlighted the peaceful environment and the mobilisation of hundreds of thousands of graduates, was described as evidence of an administration focused on the welfare, security, and successful deployment of corps members nationwide.