The Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has kicked against the calls by some Nigerians for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC), established 43 years ago by the military administration of former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2016 Batch ‘A’ (Steam 11) corps members at the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Paiko recently, the governor said that after 43 years of its establishment, the scheme remained an enduring vehicle for national unity and integration in the country.
Governor Bello maintained that the primary objective of the scheme is to develop common tie among the Nigerian youths and to promote national unity and integration, saying that “in my opinion, I feel this is still very relevant.”
He, however, pointed out that there is the need to be more innovative in the implementation process to emphasise the inculcation of discipline and moral values in the youths.
The governor therefore warned all government agencies, ministries and parastatals not to reject corps members posted to them for their primary assignment, stressing such act will not be tolerated by the government.
Also speaking, the State Coordinator of NYSC, MrsBolade O. Loto, agreed with the governor that the scheme be sustained, noting that since the inception of the scheme in 1973, it had been rendering selfless service to the community and fostering unity among different tribes regardless of their social and cultural background.
Mrs Loto thanked the governor for the support the scheme has enjoyed from the state, noting that a total of 2001 corps members were deployed to the state for the 2016 Batch A stream 11 national youth service.
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