CAC withdraws National Youth Council of Nigeria’s registration certificate over leadership crisis

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has withdrawn the registration certificate of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), citing prolonged leadership crises and multiple governance violations.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Omolara Esan, director of information at the federal ministry of youth development, confirmed the receipt of an official communication from CAC dated October 6, 2025, conveying the withdrawal of the council’s registration certificate, which was issued on October 28, 2020.

Esan said the CAC’s decision followed a “comprehensive investigation into the affairs of the Council, which has faced a prolonged leadership crisis spanning over eighteen (18) years.”

She said the CAC acted pursuant to its powers under sections 8(1)(c) and 8(1)(d) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020, after reviewing the council’s governance practices.

“Upon a detailed review of the Council’s records and governance practices, the Corporate Affairs Commission found serial violations of both the NYCN Constitution and the provisions of CAMA 2020, particularly Sections 833 and 834,” the statement reads.

“Consequently, the Commission has derecognised all existing claims to leadership, trusteeship, and management within the organisation.”

Esan said the CAC has constituted an interim management committee (IMC) to oversee and manage the council’s affairs for one year, effective October 6, 2025.

“As the supervisory authority over the National Youth Council of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, being a law-abiding institution, takes due cognisance of this development and acknowledges the legal authority of the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020,” she said.

She added that the ministry urged all stakeholders, youth organisations, and partners of the council to cooperate fully with the interim committee “in the ongoing restructuring process,” noting that the exercise aims to “restore unity, legitimacy, and institutional integrity to the NYCN, in line with its founding ideals”.

Esan reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to youth development, noting that it “remains firmly committed to ensuring a stable, credible, and inclusive youth governance framework that upholds accountability, transparency, and aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.