The Director-General of the Nigeria Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Yusuf Buba Yakub, has announced that the federal government is finalising plans to commence the export of Nigerian labour to countries across the world. According to him, the initiative is designed to create employment opportunities, discourage irregular migration, and reposition Nigeria’s human capital as a veritable source of foreign exchange.
Speaking on Friday in Abuja while presenting his two-year stewardship scorecard, Yakub said the scheme has already secured approval from the Federal Ministry of Justice after extensive consultations with the Ministries of Labour, Health, and Foreign Affairs. The new plan, he explained, will broaden NTAC’s mandate from soft power diplomacy to include structured labour export programmes that will generate revenue for the country.
The NTAC boss recalled that during his recent visit to Jamaica, the Caribbean nation had requested additional manpower beyond the seven volunteers initially planned, demonstrating the rising demand for Nigerian expertise abroad.
Meeting Obligations Despite Challenges
Yakub noted that despite budget pressures caused by foreign exchange fluctuations, the Corps has continued to fulfill its volunteer deployment commitments. He stated that Nigerian volunteers deployed abroad are well remunerated and adequately supported in line with the country’s foreign policy commitments.
To modernise operations, NTAC has introduced new ICT infrastructure, launched an in-house magazine and documentary series, and reactivated its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) under the supervision of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). These measures, Yakub said, are to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in the recruitment and deployment of volunteers.
“One of the new policies I introduced is to turn the Nigeria Technical Aid Corps into a hub for exporting our manpower, not just for free, but for money. Side by side with soft power diplomacy to support our brothers in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, we also want to serve humanity while generating income for Nigeria,” Yakub said.
“We are introducing the sale of our manpower to discourage irregular migration, discourage our citizens from dying in the deserts and oceans, and most importantly, to create employment. By October, we will have over 450 volunteers deployed globally, and by the end of the year, we expect to meet our budget by at least 90 percent, despite the challenges of exchange rate fluctuations.”
Clearing Debts and Expanding Reach
Yakub also highlighted the reforms carried out under his leadership since assuming office in August 2023. He revealed that he inherited over 198 serving volunteers, a dilapidated headquarters building, ageing vehicles, and debts running into hundreds of millions of naira in unpaid allowances and ticket refunds.
Despite these challenges, the Corps has now fully cleared its debts, rehabilitated its headquarters, improved staff welfare, and restored confidence among volunteers. Yakub attributed these achievements largely to personal outreach to partners and support from President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He further disclosed that the Corps has expanded its diplomatic footprint by opening volunteer service relationships with new countries including Grenada in the Caribbean, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, and Zanzibar.
Supporting Tinubu’s Foreign Policy
The NTAC director-general linked the agency’s efforts to President Tinubu’s 4D foreign policy initiative, which focuses on Democracy, Demography, Diaspora, and Development. According to him, the Corps is giving Nigerian youths and professionals international exposure, retraining opportunities, and the chance to return home with global experience that can contribute to national growth.
“Despite inheriting hundreds of millions in unpaid salaries and ticket refunds, with the support of Mr. President, we have cleared all our debts. We owe no volunteer today. And within this period, we have also expanded into new countries,” Yakub said.
He reiterated that NTAC will continue to serve as a strategic platform for projecting Nigeria’s image positively abroad while empowering citizens through structured international engagements