Naij.com Guest Writer Critically Reviews, Criticizes Current NYSC Scheme
In his article entitled NYSC Scheme and the Challenge of Nation-Building, our guest blogger Hussain Obaro discusses how (and if at all) written objectives of the National Youth Service Corps are implemented today, and if Nigerian youths are allowed to contribute to their fatherland's development.
Mr. Obaro reminds that, as stipulated in the mission statement, NYSC were created to:
1. Inculcate discipline in Nigerian youths.
2. Raise the moral tone of the Nigerian youths.
3. Develop common ties among the Nigerian youths and promote national unity and integration.
4. Remove prejudices, eliminate ignorance and confirm at first hand the many similarities among Nigerians of all ethnic groups.
5. Develop a sense of corporate existence and common destiny of the people of Nigeria.
6. Develop in the Nigeria youths the attitudes of mind, acquired through shared experience and suitable training, which will make them more amenable to mobilization in the national interest.
7. Enable Nigerian youths acquire the spirit of self reliance by encouraging them to develop skills for self employment.
8. Contribute to the accelerated growth of the national economy.
Whereas Mr. Obaro agrees that points 1-5 have been adhered to and realized "to some extent," he argues that the same "cannot be said of the last three."
"If the Vision 2020 of Government is to become a reality through the Transformation Agenda, then special attention has to be paid to the NYSC scheme," Mr. Obaro writes.
"The NYSC scheme has failed to meet up the dreams of the founding fathers in terms of National transformation and economic prosperity, though successes have been made in the aspects of national integration and cohesion.
"Recently, the NYSC has announced the need to make Corp members combat-ready by integrating martial arts training into the schemes," Mr. Obaro says and explains: "Introduction of martial art training is not only myopic but also baseless and unnecessary. Nigerian youths are not being prepared for war. Hence, the need to be careful and think twice. Similar practices turned to be counterproductive in Tunisia, Egypt and some Middle East countries where youths have acquired military skills and proved to be difficult to control.
"There are numerous ways by which the NYSC can put a permanent end to unnecessary killings of Corp members. Corpers should not be trained and seen as fighters.
"The NYSC should critically look into the issue of posting of Corp members. The primary assignment for Corp members should always reflect national integration, unity, cohesion, reconciliation and economic prosperity. What is the point sending out Corp members to places where their services are not needed? What sins have our dear Corp members committed that they have to be subjected to so much torture, brutality and hardship in the name of national service?
"I think it is not right for our Corp members to beg, bribe or be subjected to harsh conditions even before they can serve their fatherland.
"Yearly, close to sixty percent (60%) of Corp members are rejected by establishments and firms to which they are being posted. They are often treated as outcasts and "second-class" citizens, and subjected to rape and abuse.
"Between 2009 and 2010, I served in Imo State. Corp members posted there were often rejected by Federal Government agencies (like the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)). State ministries rejected most of them, as did schools, both primary and post-primary schools, often on the grounds that there are enough staff. Thus, Corp members were posted to churches, mosques, restaurants, eateries, hairdressing salons, bars, hotels and guest houses, even private laundry shops.
"After being rejected, Corp members are left to roam the streets in search of a place for primary assignment. Some of them have to beg their ways through. Some female corpers have to use their bodies while others bribe their way in. This is not national service but subjecting our fresh graduates to national humiliation and torture."
Mr. Obaro then suggests a way to use the NYSC scheme effectively and put a stop to the killings and abuse of Corp members:
"The NYSC scheme's duration should be reviewed and reduced from the current compulsory one (1) year to a compulsory four (4) months. Corp members should be posted at well-equipped NYSC camps for the period of their service, except for those needed for crucial national assignments (like elections) who should be trained in their camps for these purpose and allowed out for the period of these national assignments.
"The National Directorate of Employment should participate in order to give the Corp members an elaborate entrepreneurial training and encourage them to develop skills for self-employment. Corp members, regardless of their courses of study, should be mandated to belong and learn at least a vocation of their choice.
"At the end of compulsory training, interest-free loans of, say, five hundred thousand naira (N500,000.00) and one million naira (N1,000,000.00) should be made available to the Corp members depending on the entrepreneurial vocations they wish to venture into. Better still, the loans should be granted in equivalent of supplies of the machineries and equipments or tools, and repaid within the next several years.
"Apart from the interest-free loan, each Corp members should also be unconditionally entitled to the sum of one hundred (100) thousand naira camp allowance at end of the NYSC Scheme.
"I think that, should these ideas be integrated into the NYSC scheme, our youths will not only be self-reliant, but also be able to affect the economy of our great country in no small measure
"If Nigerian youths are given these all-important opportunities to channel their energy and resources, then the vision 2020, as well as the Transformation Agenda will be realizable and contribute greatly by reducing crime, prostitution, civil disturbances and terrorism levels.
"Stop sending our precious graduates to places where their services are not need. Make best use of these vibrant, energetic, brilliant and youthful Nigerians to achieve economic development and national prosperity, so that, come year 2020, Nigeria can take its rightful place among the twenty most developed economies in the world," Mr. Obaro concludes.
What was your experience as a NYSC corper? Would you agree with the points expressed by our reader Hussain Obaro? Do you have anything to add?
Mr. Obaro wrote for Legit.ng as a guest contributor, and you can become one, too! Follow these guidelines and contact us at info@naij.com to discuss details and/or submit your story.
Source: Legit.ng
