A Ghost Corper is a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who engages in fraudulent practices to evade or circumvent their service obligations.
These people may exploit loopholes in the NYSC system or collude with officials to falsely represent their participation in the mandatory one-year national service program.
Ghost Corpers typically avoid their Place of Primary Assignment (PPA), neglect Community Development Service (CDS) activities, and may even fabricate attendance records to deceive authorities.
The term “ghost” implies their presence on paper but their absence or minimal participation in actual service activities.
WARNING: This article, ‘How to Serve as a Ghost Corper During Your Service Year,’ is strictly for educational purposes. We will not be responsible for any unauthorized use of this content.
Types of Ghost Corpers
1. Amateur Ghost Corpers This is the lowest level of ghost Corpers. These Corps members attend weekly Community Development Service (CDS) meetings and also take part in monthly clearance but do not work in their Place of Primary Assignment (PPA).
They arrange with their employer and become ghosts in their PPA, going about their hustling. When they receive their allowance, they will give their PPA boss about 20% of the money.
If NYSC Inspectors visit their PPA and find them absent, their PPA boss will cover for them by telling the Inspectors the ghost corper was sent for an assignment.
Tip: If you are an NYSC Inspector, don’t just leave like that; conduct underground investigations to find out the truth about the whereabouts of those Corps members.
2. Intermediate Ghost Corpers Corps members in this category do not even stay in their state of service (deployment). Imagine someone who was posted to ‘Sokoto’ but is in ‘Lagos’ going about their daily business.
They don’t attend weekly CDS meetings; however, they show up once every month for the monthly clearance.
3. Professional Ghost Corper This is the highest hierarchy of ghost Corpers. They are mainly from rich backgrounds, especially politicians’ children. They do not do anything as Corps members: no PPA, no CDS, no monthly clearance. Just nothing, but they are serving Corps members.
In most cases, they do not even attend the Passing Out Parade (POP) but will get their Certificate. While serving, they can travel to different countries on holiday. This is similar to when Davido was serving as a Corps member without a PPA.
You will hear in the news that they are serving, and next are pictures of them in a well-ironed NYSC khaki with their Discharge Certificate, celebrating.
How to Serve as a Ghost Corper
There are three (3) different ways to go about serving as a ghost corper (this is for educational purposes only);
1. Striking a Deal with Your PPA You can negotiate with your PPA boss by explaining things to him/her. They can permit you to be away from the PPA and just be on your own.
However, they will be giving you a monthly clearance letter, stating that you duly served in the organization.
However, this requires you to attend weekly CDS meetings and monthly clearance. If you can also settle your Local Government Inspector (LGI), Community Liaison Officer (CLO), or CDS executives, you won’t need to attend CDS. They will always mark you ‘Present’ even when you did not come for the meetings.
Mind you, your PPA may not allow you to leave them and go away just like that. But if that is the case, you can employ someone to cover for you. That’s a bit easier when your PPA is a school. I remember when I was serving, my CLO was corrupt; he covered about four persons in their PPA (School) and received 5k from each per month.
2. Approaching NYSC Office Another way you can go about serving as a ghost corper without needing to talk to your PPA is by approaching your Local Government Inspector (LGI).
Most LGIs are into the business, and they make a lot of money from it. So, it’s not a strange thing to them. Just walk into his office and talk business with him.
You guys will agree on a certain percentage of your monthly allowance, and the job will be done. When NYSC allowance was N19,800, some LGIs collected up to N10,000 per month to ghost one corper. Now, the allowance is N33,000; who knows how much they collect?
So, if 10 Corpers ghost their service, the LGI will be collecting N10,000 × 10 = N100,000 per month, plus his normal monthly allowance.
This is often the easiest way because with this, you may not even need to be coming for monthly clearance.
But with the introduction of biometric clearance (thumb printing), of course, the LGI cannot help. You will still need to come for your monthly clearance.
3. Approach the NYSC Director-General or State Coordinator Wow! NYSC DG, as a high-ranking military officer, will not tolerate such. He’s anti-ghost Corpers, so don’t go near him or do it at your own risk. Only the president and other top officials can do this one. Assuming you are one of Mr. President’s children, with just a phone call, you’ll become a professional ghost Corper.
If your father is the State governor or if you know someone who knows someone in the government, you can reach out to the NYSC State Coordinator through the person.
The State Coordinator has the power to work your redeployment to his/her State and then make you a professional ghost Corper.
WARNING: Corruption exists everywhere in Nigeria, and NYSC is not an exception. This article is for educational purposes only. It does not encourage ‘ghosting’ in NYSC or suggest that the scheme is corrupt. There are always bad eggs among the good ones. It is wrong to say that other eggs are bad because of one egg.
What NYSC is Doing to Stop Ghost Corps Members
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has implemented various measures to combat the prevalence of ghost corps members and uphold the integrity of the service program. These measures include:
1. Biometric Clearance System In April 2017, the NYSC introduced a biometric clearance system for corps members’ monthly clearance and CDS meetings. This technology utilizes fingerprints and personal data to verify the attendance of corps members at their Places of Primary Assignment (PPAs) and CDS activities. The biometric system enhances monitoring and prevents proxy attendance, thereby reducing opportunities for ghosting.
2. Collaboration with Law Enforcement Agencies The NYSC collaborates with law enforcement agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and prosecute cases of fraud and corruption within the NYSC. This partnership aims to deter fraudulent activities and hold accountable those involved in ghosting or other forms of misconduct.
3. Training and Sensitization The NYSC conducts training programs and sensitization campaigns to educate corps members, NYSC officials, and stakeholders about the consequences of ghosting and the importance of upholding the values of the service program. These initiatives raise awareness about ethical conduct, accountability, and the legal implications of fraudulent practices.
4. Monitoring and Supervision
NYSC officials, including Local Government Inspectors (LGIs) and State Coordinators, are tasked with monitoring and supervising corps members’ activities at their PPAs and during CDS meetings. Regular inspections and spot checks help to ensure compliance with NYSC regulations and detect instances of ghosting or absenteeism.
5. Enforcement of Penalties
The NYSC imposes penalties on corps members found guilty of ghosting or engaging in fraudulent activities. Penalties may include extension of service duration, cancellation of service year, or legal action depending on the severity of the offense. By enforcing consequences for misconduct, the NYSC discourages future instances of ghosting and promotes accountability among corps members.
6. Continuous Review and Improvement
The NYSC continuously reviews its policies, procedures, and systems to identify vulnerabilities and implement improvements that enhance transparency, efficiency, and integrity in the mobilization and deployment of corps members. This ongoing effort ensures that the NYSC remains vigilant against fraudulent practices and adapts to emerging challenges.
Overall, the NYSC remains committed to eradicating ghosting and maintaining the credibility and effectiveness of the national service program. Through proactive measures, enforcement of regulations, and collaboration with stakeholders, the NYSC strives to foster a culture of integrity, service, and patriotism among corps members while safeguarding the principles of the organization.