National Youth Service Corps (NYSC ): A Slip Into Redundancy? By Adesina Oluwaseun

I have always been an admirer of the National Youths Service Corps scheme and from the day I got my posting letter to partake in the program, I counted myself privileged to have been given the opportunity to serve the country. I have always looked forward to this, as I saw it as an opportunity to contribute my quota to the development of the state I was posted to through the use of my time, knowledge and the meager resources at my disposal.

I was also eager to meet my fellow Corps members, fresh, young graduates like me, so we could interact and share views that would make an impact on country. All that was a mirage though, because once Service started, I faced the harsh reality and saw that the rot that had permeated the nation didn't miss the NYSC scheme either.

The NYSC scheme was created in a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war. It was expected to strengthen the cords that bound us as a people. The unfortunate antecedents in our national history gave impetus to the establishment of the NYSC by the General Yakubu Gowon through decree 24 on 22nd May 1973 which stated that the "NYSC is being established with a view to the proper encouragement and the development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity". 

Once you are a Nigerian graduate of any tertiary institution (University or polytechnic) within or outside the country and are less than 30 years of age, you are eligible and expected to partake in the programs. You are then posted to any state in the country, most especially outside of the tribe you belong to. After the orientation camps, which lasts for 3 weeks, you are posted to different sectors, depending on your discipline. The aim also was to create a base for the nation's workforce as those who successfully completed their service were regained by their places of primary assignments.

Has the programme been able to live up to the expectations of its founding fathers? N0. The NYSC ought to be a programme that will identify and utilize human resource potentials for economic development and growth. But in recent times, the NYSC has veered off this course. In a case where a lawyer is made to teach computer studies in a school, and a trained teacher made to work in a Local Government. this could also have been an extension of the malaise in the country where round pegs are fitted in square holes when it comes to labour. How wil this help them in having the experience that employers seek for? The time they should have spent honing their skills are wasted on irrelevancies.

It is also shameful that there is no security of lives for serving corps members in the country. I remember vividly during my service year that a Corp member who was diagnosed with jaundice of the liver and was rushed to the Federal Medical Center and there was a rift between who will settle the medical bills of the corps member. The School principal of where the corps member was serving approached the State Coordinator on the issue, and he was told to foot the bills, which he declined to. Thereafter, the state coordinator transferred the Corps members to a neighboring secondary school in retaliation. It worried my mind that fateful day knowing there was no health insurance for corps members in this country. No regards for the lives of corps members. Also, despite the insecurity in some states corps members are still posted there for service. And when they get killed, no compensation is given to their families.

The weekly Community Development Service, (also known as CDS) meeting of corps member has been regarded as a waste of time where nothing tangible is been achieved. The meetings are supposed to be an outlet for the evaluation of knowledge among corps members , research and entrepreneurship training and also serve as a weekly mentorship programme where individuals who have succeeded in politics , and in the corporate world can come and share their experience on how to be successful to the corps members inspire and motivate them and also advice them to shun vices. Many have been encouraged by the words of such people.

The state and local government , with the support of the corporate organizations should partner in building a formidable platform for the youth corps members during their service year, putting in place good conditions of service such as providing suitable accommodations, reliable transportation system and health care, a supporting monthly allowance to augment that of the federal government. Also, employing corps members after their youth service into the state and local government workforce will energize them to contribute more to the nation.

The programme needs to be overhauled so that it won't be rendered useless, and people will look forward to serving the nation as they once did. The Youths are our future leaders, they need to be properly informed , equipped and engaged positively towards the future ahead of them. To my brothers and sisters passing out today I welcome you to the Favor Market . I pray that as you have served the nation, may it serve you back in good health and riches . Welcome once again to the undiluted reality of the true Nigerian society .

God bless the Nigerian Youths.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria