No joke, if you skip your NYSC year in Nigeria, you can end up in some real trouble. I've heard stories from some people who thought they could just skip it and still get by, but it's a risky move. The government takes it pretty seriously, especially for government jobs. You can't even apply for most federal or state jobs unless you have proof you completed NYSC or got officially exempted.

One of my sister’s friends tried to fake his way through and got caught when a job wanted to see his actual NYSC certificate. They flat-out rejected him, and he basically had to start over just to get his paperwork sorted. In extreme cases, people can face legal action or have their certificates revoked if they're found lying. And it’s not just government jobs—some big private companies will straight-up ask for your NYSC stuff too.

So yeah, it's not something you can just ignore. Most people end up doing the year because it's way more hassle to dodge it than just go through with it. I get why people wish it wasn’t so strict, but as it stands, skipping NYSC can seriously mess with your future plans if you want an official career in Nigeria.