NYSC CLOCKS 41; TIME TO SCRAP OR SCRAPE?

The NYSC scheme was created in a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war. The unfortunate antecedents in our national history gave impetus to the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps by decree No.24 of 22nd May 1973

which stated that the NYSC is being established "with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity".

The objectives of the National Youth Service Corps Scheme are clearly spelt out in Decree No.51 of 16th June 1993 as follows

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.

To raise the moral tone of the Nigerian youths by giving them the opportunity to learn about higher ideals of national achievement, social and cultural improvement

To develop in the Nigerian youths the attitudes of mind, acquired through shared experience and suitable training which will make them more amenable to mobilisation in the national interest

To enable Nigerian youths acquire the spirit of self reliance by encouraging them to develop skills for self employment

To contribute to the accelerated growth of the national economy

To develop common ties among the Nigerian youths and promote national unity and integration

To remove prejudices, eliminate ignorance and confirm at first hand the many similarities among Nigerians of all ethnic groups

To develop a sense of corporate existence and common destiny of the people of Nigeria

The equitable distribution of members of the service corps and the effective utilisation of their skills in area of national needs

That as far as possible, youths are assigned to jobs in States other than their States of origin

That such group of youths assigned to work together is as representative of Nigeria as far as possible

That the Nigerian youths are exposed to the modes of living of the people in different parts of Nigeria

That the Nigerian youths are encouraged to eschew religious intolerance by accommodating religious differences

That members of the service corps are encouraged to seek at the end of their one year national service, career employment all over Nigeria, thus promoting the free movement of labour

That employers are induced partly through their experience with members of the service corps to employ more readily and on a permanent basis, qualified Nigerians, irrespective of their States of origin.

Many today will say NYSC is obsolete, without any meaningful and modern outlook (since we no more have military rulers and most youths didn’t experience the civil war) but successive governments have continued to support and finance the scheme.

As NYSC clocks 41 years of age, we hope that an overhauling which has been long overdue will be carried out on the scheme and a better holistic and modern structure put in place. We salute corpers presently in camp and hope they finish in one piece.HAPPY 41^st Anniversary to NYSC