If you’re a Nigerian under 30 and you graduated from a recognized higher institution (home or abroad), yes, NYSC is technically compulsory—unless you fall into specific exemption categories.

Here’s the breakdown:

• If you’re over 30 at graduation, you get a certificate of exemption.
• If you served in the military or paramilitary for over a year, you’re exempt.
• If you got your degree/diploma before NYSC was established (1973), you’re free.

The real-world catch? Many employers—especially government agencies and big corporates—won’t hire without the NYSC discharge or exemption certificate. I know someone who skipped service after studying abroad; when they returned, every job application stalled at HR because “NYSC certificate” was missing. They eventually had to go back and process it years later.

So while you can avoid it in some situations, skipping NYSC without a valid exemption often closes doors you might not expect.