NYSC DG Charges Legal Officers on FOIA Compliance, Transparency

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Oluseye Nafiu, has urged the Scheme's Legal Officers to uphold the principles of transparency, integrity and accountability by ensuring strict compliance with Nigeria's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in the discharge of their duties.

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 in public administration and strengthening public confidence in government institutions.

The training, held at Bolingo Hotel, Abuja, was themed "Building Institutional Resilience Through Legal Excellence and Digital Compliance."

The NYSC Director General said the Scheme frequently receives requests from employers, organisations and individuals seeking access to records of former Corps Members, making it imperative for legal officers to have a sound understanding of the legal framework governing the release of official information.

According to him, while the FOIA guarantees citizens access to public information, legal officers must ensure that sensitive records are handled in line with the provisions of the law.

He charged participants to provide sound legal advice and professional interpretation of relevant laws to the NYSC management, stressing that their role is critical to safeguarding the integrity of the Scheme.

Earlier, the Director of Legal Services, Barrister Christopher Ogar, said the training was designed to equip legal officers with the knowledge and skills required to address emerging legal and technological challenges, particularly those arising from cyber threats and digital transformation.

Ogar noted that the responsibilities of legal officers go beyond offering legal advice, adding that they are expected to ensure compliance with extant laws, manage litigation effectively, prepare sound legal documents and promote accountability across the organisation.

He said the workshop would expose participants to key areas including the Freedom of Information Act, Cybercrimes Act, data privacy and other emerging legal issues that would enhance service delivery.

The Legal Services Director also explained that under the FOIA Act 2011, Corps Members and their parents have the right to request information relating to NYSC operations. He, however, stressed that legal officers must understand the legal limits of disclosure, what information is exempt from release and the timelines prescribed by law.

Ogar further urged participants to develop the capacity to identify and preserve evidence relating to cybercrime involving Corps Members and apply such knowledge throughout the NYSC service cycle, from registration to the passing-out process.

Resource persons for the capacity-building programme were drawn from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Federal Ministry of Justice and private data analysis firms.