The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has officially withdrawn the registration certificate of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) following a formal communication from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) citing serious governance violations and prolonged leadership crises within the organization.
In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Omolara Esan, the Ministry announced that the registration certificate earlier issued to the NYCN on October 28, 2020, has been nullified after a detailed review by the CAC revealed serial infractions against both the NYCN Constitution and the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, particularly Sections 833 and 834.
According to the Ministry, the CAC’s findings uncovered longstanding irregularities in the council’s governance structure, including breaches in trusteeship, leadership legitimacy, and administrative processes, issues that have fueled internal disputes for nearly two decades.
Acting under the powers conferred by Sections 8(1)(c) and 8(1)(d) of CAMA 2020, the Corporate Affairs Commission consequently de-recognized all existing claims to leadership, trusteeship, and management of the NYCN. The commission has also established an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee and reorganize the affairs of the council for a one-year period, effective October 6, 2025.
The Ministry described the decision as a necessary step towards restoring “unity, legitimacy, and institutional integrity” to the apex youth body, which has been marred by division and leadership tussles since its inception.
It further appealed to all stakeholders, including zonal, state, and local council chapters of the NYCN, to cooperate fully with the Interim Management Committee in the ongoing restructuring and reconciliation process aimed at repositioning the council for effective representation of Nigerian youth at all levels.
“This decisive action marks a turning point in efforts to sanitize the leadership structure of the NYCN and reaffirm government’s commitment to fostering transparent and accountable youth organizations,” the statement added.
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development reiterated its readiness to continue engaging with credible youth-led organizations to promote unity, innovation, and empowerment across Nigeria’s youth sector.