General Nafiu Restates Nysc’s Commitment To Free Legal Services Through Corps Lawyers

The Director General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu has said that the Scheme will continue to provide free legal services to underprivileged citizens of Nigeria through its pool of Corps Lawyers serving across the country.

He made this commitment during the opening ceremony of 2025 NYSC Legal Aid Workshop held in Abuja.

Represented by at the function by the Director, Procurement, Mr Chris Jimba, the Director General noted that the workshop would provide an opportunity to strengthen the collective goal of the Scheme by ensuring that justice is accessible to all, particularly the downtrodden in the society.

According to him, NYSC has been known for diverse charitable acts, and will never relent in putting smiles on the faces of the citizenry, irrespective of ethnic affiliations, as the Scheme is a symbol of national unity and integration.  

General Nafiu urged NYSC Legal Officers and Corps Lawyers drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, to sustain the tempo of mentoring Corps Lawyers in the act of assisting mankind in their quest for justice, adding that there is satisfaction in serving humanity.

“Compassion, empathy, fairness and integrity are hallmarks of good legal aid team,” he added.

He equally challenged them to embark on self development programmes in order to remain abreast of contemporary trends in their profession, stressing that the legal landscape is ever evolving and its complexities require practitioners to regularly upgrade their knowledge. 

In his welcome address, the Director, Legal Services, Barrister Christopher Ogar disclosed that the workshop marks an important milestone in the on-going efforts to ensure that Legal Officers and Corps Lawyers involved in Corps Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS) are fully equipped to meet the legal needs of members of the society that cannot afford to hire lawyers to represent them in courts.

He said the importance of NYSC’s Corps Legal Aid Community Development Service group cannot be over emphasised, considering the fact that it ensures that individuals, regardless of their economic status get legal representation and obtain justice.

Barrister Ogar further said that the workshop is an avenue for participants to share ideas, and as well acquire knowledge on how to tackle contemporary legal matters, in pursuing justice for their clients.