‘NYSC not a waste of time’ — DG defends scheme amid debate over relevance
Shuaibu Ibrahim, director-general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says the scheme is “critical to the unity of the country”.
He said the scheme is not a waste of time, adding that its relevance in integration and national cohesion must not be underestimated.
The brigadier-general spoke on Wednesday in his office in Abuja.
He said NYSC has been a useful tool for the socio-economic development of the country through the deployment of corps members to states outside their base.
He said the corps members contribute in many ways to the lives of residents of their host communities.
“NYSC is not a waste of time, wherever corps members are posted to, they have been adding value in order to be remembered with good legacies,” Ibrahim said.
TheCable had on Monday reported that the house of representatives is considering a bill seeking to scrap the scheme.
The bill, which has passed first reading, was sponsored by Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker from Rivers state.
Abiante told TheCable that the NYSC scheme has failed to achieve its intended purpose and therefore should be discontinued.
He also said the scheme has led to the untimely death of some corps members who were posted to areas with serious security threats.
Reacting, the NYSC DG said the scheme has partnered with security agencies to ensure adequate protection for corps members during their service year.
He said corps members will also be educated on the importance of being security conscious while in their host communities.
“Security is everybody’s business and security challenge is not limited to NYSC alone”, lbrahim said.
“We want to appeal to parents to help us also sensitise their children not to endanger their safety. Every country has challenges but we should turn our challenge into opportunities.”
Ibrahim added that the NYSC’s posting and deployment policy is based on strict guidelines and regulations.
“Posting, redeployment and other services are free in NYSC. Relocation is done on health and marital grounds with genuine reasons”, he said.
“Parents should teach their children to be patriotic and have human feeling. Let the spirit of NYSC be in use for the betterment of our country.”
The NYSC DG advised corps members to utilise their service year judiciously and impact their host communities.
You’re-right sir. The Reps would have done a world of good by abolishing the Senate first. That and a reduced House and more free Local governments free from the governors whose states could well be ABOLISHED as well would put Nigeria on a fast-track to better living for the citizens.
I think this is a sensible though Sir, am seriously with you. NYSC is not in any way a waste of time. Coming to think of it, if students can be safe at their various schools of learning then they can be as well safe in their places of duty. Security challenges does not only end at serving year of the students, even at their program years they need security. What happened to the schools that students are been kidnapped? Are they scrabbing schools in those states? We must think wise as a Nation and make laws of relevance for the betterment of our Dear country as well as its citizens.