Opinions

NYSC scheme in need of overhaul

FOLLOWING the Nigerian Civil War between 6 July 1967 to 15 January 1970, the Supreme Military Government under the leadership of General Yakubu Gowon launched its post-war 3Rs (Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction) agenda. This agenda gave birth to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on May 22, 1973, with the following objectives, among others: (a) To inculcate discipline in Nigerian youths by instilling in them a tradition of industry at work, and of patriotic and loyal service to Nigeria in any situation they may find themselves;(b) To raise the moral tone of Nigerian youths by giving them the opportunity to learn about higher ideals of national achievements, social and cultural improvement; (c) To develop in the Nigerian youths the attitudes of mind, acquired through shared experience and suitable training, which will make them more amenable to mobilization in the national interest.These objectives, although subsisting within the framework of a scheme that is youth-focused, are primarily aimed at healing the deep gashes that the civil war had left behind in different parts of Nigeria, and promoting national unity and integration.

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While this is a very laudable scheme with many success stories feathering its cap, there are serious fundamental issues, in my opinion, that must needs be confronted for the scheme to well and truly achieve its set objectives without leaving the majority of its target audience behind. Perching threateningly at the nucleus of the NYSC scheme, however, is a surreal monster of discrimination, or depending on your outlook – a case of terrible oversight. And to knock this threat off its perch, we certainly need to confront the unnecessary baggage accompanying it. My argument, therefore, is that we need to review some fundamental clauses in the NYSC Act. For why should we call it a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme when it is, in actuality, a National Graduates Service Corps scheme (NGSC)? Also, why should we exclude OND Certificate holders and Secondary School Certificate holders when the central focus of the scheme is the youth? Also, why should we limit the scope of youths to be captured in this scheme when the goal is to educate and build the capacities of Nigerian youths towards a brighter future for our country?

There are millions of Nigerian youths who are presently segregated against and invariably excluded from participating in the NYSC scheme, either because they are yet to gain admission into the higher institution and only have their Secondary School Certificate, or they are yet to complete their Polytechnic education due to lack of funds. There are, also, those who would be unable to serve their fatherland because they would have to repeat a class in their University, or because their Vice Chancellors, lecturers, and other sexual predators in higher institutions would be the behemoth to stand against their graduation and the eventual call-up for National Service.

In furtherance of my argument, there is no iota of doubt in my mind that, in the best interest of our country’s future, the NYSC framework needs to be overhauled along two fundamental lines:(a). Considering the objectives of the NYSC scheme which directly reflects the national ethics, values and aspirations of our country, it is important that we downgrade the standard for eligible candidates for the scheme to include both OND certificate holders and secondary school certificate holders. From the perspective of public education and building future heroes for our country, there is no better time to impress the consciousness of nationalism in the minds of the youths than during their teenage years and their early 20s. This scheme is, ergo, a good opportunity to educate Nigerian youths – from the secondary education level to the tertiary education level – on the national ethics of our country; as enumerated in Section 23 of the CFRN.

In addition, youth unemployment in Nigeria is presently above 33 per cent. This is an omen for a terrible disaster, specifically the potential increase in social vices and crime. We can, without any ado, enumerate different kinds of crime and acts of terror currently bedevilling our country and spearheaded by the youths. Many among these perpetrators of criminal offences are the extreme examples of the evil consequences of youth unemployment in our country. For it is an axiom that an idle mind is a breeding ground for evil thoughts. Also, the degree of extreme poverty in Nigeria presently is staggering. About 86.9 million Nigerians are currently living in extreme poverty. That is nearly half of our country’s 200 million population. This is an omen for monumental increase in youth criminality and social vices.

It is only wise that in the best interest of our country, the youths are kept busy with a worthwhile endeavour like the NYSC scheme, from the post-secondary education level to the higher institutions, than be abandoned to fritter away their energy on dishonourable endeavours with terrible consequences for the country. (b). That there be no restrictions for Nigerian youths who are 18 years old and below 30 years old; to participate in the National Youth Service Corps scheme between their time of completing Secondary School education and their graduation from the higher institution. For instance, during the period of seeking admission, applicants who fail to obtain admission into any school after writing the Jamb exam in a particular year have to wait for another year to get such opportunity again. Youths within this category should be allowed to participate in the NYSC scheme while waiting for the subsequent year to get another Jamb form.

By keeping busy through acquiring the requisite experience for the labour market and learning about our country’s values and aspirations, youths in this category would, rather than be reduced to a state of nothingness or tempted to commit crime, be encouraged to develop the spirit of self-reliance, patriotism, industry, loyalty to country, religious and ethnic tolerance and also imbibe the consciousness of nationalism through the NYSC scheme. For those within this category, who further fail to obtain admission into any higher institution after the completion of their NYSC, they should be provided access to a low-level employment in any ministry, agency, or private company through a collaboration between the National Directorate of the NYSC and the private sector, to work on projects or undertakings which they were devoted to during their service year as captured under Section 9 (2) of the NYSC Act. This would contribute massively, I believe, to building our national economy, promoting unity and integration, reducing youth unemployment, reducing youth crime and building the capacity of Nigerian youths.