Rep wants NYSC scheme scrapped
Written by Emmanuel Aziken & James Egbon
Friday, 02 January 2009
The deputy chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Labour, Rep. Chukwuma Umeoji has called for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) saying the programme has lost focus.
Umeoji (Labour, Aguata, Anambra) in a statement made available to Vanguard lamented that one of the scheme’s cardinal objectives of national cohesion has also been overwhelmed by ethnic and religious bigotry.

He said that scrapping the programme would save the country the estimated N40 billion expended on the scheme which he said was now being poured down the drain.

His comment came against the background of the recent sectarian crisis in Jos, Plateau State that led to the death of three Corps members.

“Today, corpers are killed by people who are supposed to protect them. Employers reject corpers posted to their establishment. The worst situation is that government establishments are the worst culprits in the rejection of corpers.”

Noting the loss to some families as a result of the national service, he said, “Today some families are in pain for losing loved ones to demonstrations of hatred in the Nigerian state.”

Observing the bureaucracy that has recently beleaguered the scheme, he said, “Most Nigerian graduates waste up to three years to get a chance to serve.

The number of years wasted to get a chance to serve could not be utilized because of the demand for discharge certificates before employment.’’

Noting that the amount expended on the scheme could be used for better purposes, he said, “The government should, as a matter of urgent national importance, scrap the programme and save the tax payers’ money.

Out of N40 billion allocated to the Ministry of Youth Development over 70% will be spent on NYSC related matters. From all indications the programme has not achieved the des

http://nigeriamasterweb.com/paperfrmes.html

Folks what do you think?

I agree with the guy

why should we let religion intolerant make us to scrap a program that serve as a catalyst to national development and unity.

@ Naijex.Yes - i agree it used to be a catalyst,especially when National unity was at its infantry level and thus fragile.Currently, the programme has completely lost its values by further isolating itself from the principles which it was founded on.It has become another avenue for funds drain,and its benefits to the graduating youths has abruptly came to an halt.My recommendation - the programme should be either be scrapped or redefined to ameliorate the present  fundamental issues which affects youths after graduation in relation to National development.The major scorge 'now' is unemployment,the programme should therefore be amended towards this direction i.e making fresh graduates job creators instead of wasting off a year and adding pressure/expanding the labour market all in the name of ficticious 'National development/unity' and ofcourse funds embezzlement.

McKren:

He said that scrapping the programme would save the country the estimated N40 billion expended on the scheme which he said was now being poured down the drain.

Instead of working on ensuring the people and students get their worth out of the N40 billion investment, we need to scrap it? What do we have instead?

McKren:


His comment came against the background of the recent sectarian crisis in Jos, Plateau State that led to the death of three Corps members.

“Today, corpers are killed by people who are supposed to protect them. Employers reject corpers posted to their establishment. The worst situation is that government establishments are the worst culprits in the rejection of corpers.”

Noting the loss to some families as a result of the national service, he said, “Today some families are in pain for losing loved ones to demonstrations of hatred in the Nigerian state.”

Ah! The Nigerian solution to riots is to scrap the NYSC? No need considering the potential good restructuring the program would do development in the country, we should scrap it because of instability and governments continued inability to secure it’s people?

McKren:

Observing the bureaucracy that has recently beleaguered the scheme, he said, “Most Nigerian graduates waste up to three years to get a chance to serve. The number of years wasted to get a chance to serve could not be utilized because of the demand for discharge certificates before employment.’’

Why not ask the question WHY students WASTE three years to get a chance to serve, and then tackle that problem? I see no reason why they should wait 3 years as there are so many areas where student help is needed in that country.

McKren:

Noting that the amount expended on the scheme could be used for better purposes, he said, “The government should, as a matter of urgent national importance, scrap the programme and save the tax payers’ money.

Out of N40 billion allocated to the Ministry of Youth Development over 70% will be spent on NYSC related matters. From all indications the programme has not achieved the des

http://nigeriamasterweb.com/paperfrmes.html

Ah!! Used for better purposes? Sort of like the billions budgeted last year for so many other projects have been used for better purposes? How can the program achieve much when the ministry in charge of the program has not run the program efficiently and effectively? What next? Scrap public education because school students get killed during riots as well, and public schools are not as effective today as they once were back when we still had sane leaders in the ministry?

About time. NYSC is a colossal charade.

NYSC is a complete waste of time and regrettable as well as unpardonable waste of capital resource. I say scrap it along with the Road Marshal scheme. In fact, Nigeria needs to be scrapped too.

I understand that Nigeria system has failed in many aspect. And if NYSC is scrap, so you think the N40B allocation will not go to another useless establishment.

Why not address the religious intolerant issue the  rep wants to scrap NYSC for.

lol @ kobojunkie.And your recommendation would be,allow the ' sick programme ' continue because you feel  it cant be saved or just crave in to natural death.

The REP might be erred in his analysis and solution proferred,but truth is NYSC is one of the major frauds starring at us in the face.And truth is the Nation can do well without it,so why should scrapping it be an headache compared to some other important 'sick,corrupt ridden Govt/public institutions.

Bee-xtra:

lol @ kobojunkie.And your recommendation would be,allow the ' sick programme ' continue because you feel it can't be saved or just crave in to natural death.

Growing up in Nigeria, NYSC members used to be highly respected in the communities. Why? The program used to be an excellent one. My father gained so much during his time as a corper, that he got hired on to PZ as a manager right after his corp. years. The main reason the program is no longer as effective and as it used to be is same reason why the Nigerian Police no longer works as it used to -- Negligence and corruption. These are the exact same reasons why public school system in that country is also in shambles.

Imagine a man borrowing 1 million from his family to start an IT business, and instead of working towards the success of the business, he turns around and sits around lazily playing video games, expecting the company to run itself. When he realizes that he has lost all the money, he starts saying things like, the business failed because it was just not working Or that the global credit crunch is reason why the business failed and so pulling the plug on it would save his family money. Do you think that makes sense?

The NYSC program is potentially a great program that will go a long way in helping the graduates build skills needed to better compete in the world today and the world outside of college, as well as provide the government with lower cost labor for development needs. These needs are still present. So why scrap the program when the problem is government has in it’s all so well known way, mismanaged the program like it has many others in the same country?

Bee-xtra:

The REP might be erred in his analysis and solution proferred,but truth is NYSC is one of the major frauds starring at us in the face.And truth is the Nation can do well without it,so why should scrapping it be an headache compared to some other important 'sick,corrupt ridden Govt/public institutions.

I don’t know how long you have known of the program, NYSC corpers used to be respected all over. Even companies used to scramble to get the next set of corpers on their payroll. We need to stop this bandage approach to dealing with problems. It is apparently not working for anyone and is not going to work in this case. Instead of scrapping NYSC, the rep should look into closing up those holes in the system leading to the problems he points out and focus more on implementing solutions that will better the communities and the student at the same time. What guarantee do we have that the $40 billion he claims he will save when he closes this up will be used for something better? Are we going to Scrap plans to build better electricity plans then since we have sunk trillions into that idea already and still have nothing to show for it? Abegi!!

The NYSC is a good scheme if properly implemented and in recent years it fails to reach it goals and objective. Nigeria being a nation of diverse ethnic nationalities and cultural groups needs programmes like these to help in integrating the union. However, the problem are not peculiar to NYSC only. All government parastatals - the police, judiciary, University, transport, aviation - just name it, everything is not proper. U dont kill a project because there a problems, but u find the problems and tackle them. In the early days, the NYSC serve as means for securing jobs, and it continues uptill today. There are many Nigerians that got their jobs at the organisation they served.

As a Member of the National assembly, the guy is suppose to proffer solution to NYSC. If scrapping is the solution to all problems, the we can start by scrapping the National Assembly. Yes, they have failed us. They are doing nothing other than buyin cars for themselves.

Some people just dont even know what their responsibility is.

kjunkie word !.But you need to look at the labour market during popsy's time. The number of graduates then is only a fraction of what we have today.Meaning,its now more difficult for these youths to get jobs in the labour market and the so called NYSC wasnt primarily founded on principles to address this unemployment monster.Whilst am not advocating throwing the baby away with the dirty water,but we must  not forget it is gradualy loosing its relevance not only because of its corrupt directors but also because its not addresing the present day needs of our youths.'' Prepare them to create jobs,and not prepare them to undertake jobs which are not available  '',

Bee-xtra:

kjunkie word !.But you need to look at the labour market during popsy's time. The number of graduates then is only a fraction of what we have today. Meaning,its now more difficult for these youths to get jobs in the labour market and the so called NYSC wasnt primarily founded on principles to address this unemployment monster.

The very reasons you list above is why we desperately need a better NYSC program right now. The schools are busy churning out half-baked graduates who do not know their left from their right. Investing in bettering the NYSC program NOW will go a long way in helping reduce the unemployment levels. If the programs can effectively equip these graduates with business skills, on the job experience as well as offer
Small business owners a chance to mentor these graduates at reduced cost for a period of time, it will actually go along way in helping improve the situation in the market for these graduates and the business owners.

Bee-xtra:

Whilst am not advocating throwing the baby away with the dirty water, but we must not forget it is gradualy loosing its relevance not only because of its corrupt directors but also because its not addresing the present day needs of our youths.'' Prepare them to create jobs, and not prepare them to undertake jobs which are not available '',

It is not losing its relevance; in fact it is more relevant now than it has ever been. Now is the time when we need government programs such as these to help close up the huge gap that is continually being created by the ineptitude that continues to exist in so many sectors. You can not close out the NYSC or technical schools now as they are needed now more than ever before.
You ought to ask why it is not preparing them to create jobs. Is it that these graduates are being educated on how to but they ALL refuse to?

The North does get cheap labour that they would otherwise not get but for the NYSC programme. For that reason alone, I can't see it being scrapped.

Kobojunkie, talking bollocks as usual. Anything that graduates need can be incorporated within the university system, you don't have to have a post-graduate national programme for that.

Kobojunkie at her eccentric best

i don't care about the financial implication rather am only interested in the sufferings of family to train their children to that level only them to hear the death of their wards in nysc.
for that aspect of killings via riot, let them do away with that programme which in no way is uniting nigeria

chidichris:

i don't care about the financial implication rather am only interested in the sufferings of family to train their children to that level only them to hear the death of their wards in nysc.
for that aspect of killings via riot, let them do away with that programme which in no way is uniting nigeria

Will doing away with the program quell the killings? What next? Do away with schools because school students turn out to be some of the victims during the riots?

NYSC is not a skills aquisition programme, it is meant to improve National Unity and cohession.

I personally served in Sokoto, we jumped from tree to tree, walked on ropes and all sorts of boys scout training at our one month camping. At the end I spent one year teaching Mathematics at a remote village in Sokoto. I can not say the time I spent in a village where people hardly heard any word of english or where people had religion or cultures totally different from mine did not teach me anything. And certainly what I made of my experiences will not be what everyone else made of theirs.

But I came away with a clear conviction that the programme should at least be made optional or scraped totally for a smarter policy.

Yes in a country where most final year students leave the University without a clear future, NYSC gives you that transition from student life to labour market. Where you test the world outside campus and decide for yourself what you might do. For a lot of Nigerians without Godfathers or connections in high places this proves very helpful, hence for this reason it may be a good idea to make the NYSC optional.

But the primary purpose of the NYSC which is National Cohession has been defeated. A situation where the corps members themselves are a target of religous violence even make this fact more obvious. I have always questioned why we support an education system that teaches kids in primary schools that their religion is best and anyone who does not practice their religion either will not go to heaven or in some cases do not even deserve to live.
Then when they are 21 we hope that a mere one year service will help them unlearn what they have learnt in the last 20years.

I think both Christain religous knowledge and Islamic religous studies should be scraped from primary and secondary schools. Rather civics or Nigerian studies where patriotism and brotherly love is emphasized should be taught. (we have enough churches and mosques who teach religion during the weekend, we dont need them any further in our schools).

Another reason why this strategy fails is how many of the populace even go to the University. will a programme targeted at kids who are 5 - 10 have a wider reach? or is National cohession only necessary for those who could afford a University degree

If this programme is no longer serving its purpose why are those who dont see the sense in this programme still compelled to go through it?

I think a review and redifinition of the programme is necessary.

Kobojunkie:

Will doing away with the program quell the killings? What next? Do away with schools because school students turn out to be some of the victims during the riots?

Kobo most school students go to school either within their neighbourhood or within areas they are familiar with and their security is gauranteed. Corps members are posted to areas they sometimes have never heard of.

I think NYSC is being scrapped 4 d wrong reason here.

McKren:

Kobo most school students go to school either within their neighbourhood or within areas they are familiar with and their security is gauranteed. Corps members are posted to areas they sometimes have never heard of.

Well,  why not post them to areas where they are of better use and safer rather than scrapping for the reasons listed above?

why should we let religion intolerant make us to scrap a program that serve as a catalyst to national development and unity.

a catalyst for what??

Surprised none of you guys question the N40 billion figure.

texazzpete:

Surprised none of you guys question the N40 billion figure.

N28bn (70% of N40bn) isn't particularly astounding considering the scale of the programme, possibly tens of thousands of graduates.

In a country with a vision we don't need this program to bring Unity. I don't see how a one month Orientation camp we prepare you for the task ahead. The 40billion naira budgeted for the programed should be diverted to equip the education system of the country or create Skill programs instead of the sole called NYSC. Do you know how much is going out of Nigeria to foreign University abroad due to the fact that we dont have good schools and infrastructure in our country so we spend alot of money in other country studying as International student and pay double.

My brother i will put it to you that the NYSC program is just away to loot money in Nigeria and alot of people wont allow it to be scraped due to the huge contract benefit they get every year.

shows the level of reasoning our so called educated and enlightened lawmakers have,if one or a group of them can publicly make these sort of comments about a programme that is meant to among other things promote cohesion amongst the various ethnicities,instill a sense of responsibility,build character e.t.c

4 Play:

N28bn (70% of N40bn) isn't particularly astounding considering the scale of the programme, possibly tens of thousands of graduates.

Ermm! Chike Obi, It's not 70% of N40bn but 70% of Ministry of Youths Development's budget.

lucabrasi:

shows the level of reasoning our so called educated and enlightened lawmakers have,if one or a group of them can publicly make these sort of comments about a programme that is meant to among other things promote cohesion amongst the various ethnicities,instill a sense of responsibility,build character e.t.c

The comment he made is one of the best made from NA in it's entire history.

jaffidoni:

In a country with a vision we don't need this program to bring Unity. I don't see how a one month Orientation camp we prepare you for the task ahead. The 40billion naira budgeted for the programed should be diverted to equip the education system of the country or create Skill programs instead of the sole called NYSC. Do you know how much is going out of Nigeria to foreign University abroad due to the fact that we don't have good schools and infrastructure in our country so we spend alot of money in other country studying as International student and pay double.

I never for once believed the unity angle made sense but I do know that the program has helped many in the past and I am sure even to date and that is why I support the need for the program and believe it is potentially needed in solving the problem in the country today.
The man speaking does not mention if the budget is annual but it makes a lot of sense that a program as big as the NYSC would have a budget of that amount (I expected more than that amount invested each year). However, due to corruption and mismanagement issues, I doubt half of that money ever actually makes it to the program account.
As for on-the-job skill acquisition, even foreign schools recommend students look for Internships to help give them an idea of what awaits them out there, some boost for their ego, and help their resume. This program has served as Internship for millions of students in the past and I do not see why we need to scrap it now because of corruption issues we are not willing to deal with directly, joined with religious issues that have next to nothing to do with the program itself.

My brother i will put it to you that the NYSC program is just away to loot money in Nigeria and alot of people wont allow it to be scraped due to the huge contract benefit they get every year.

Well, the program used to be effective before the decay. If the looting is the problem, why don’t we deal with the looting, management issues, riots and problems with our education system, then we can have an effective program that once again provides needed exposure to students across the nation.

i serviced in adamawa state, nice and bad thing happen, but with the way northerner are killing our people. i think we should put it on hold.  it is becoming costly.

number was LA/ilr/year/5522X   X is a number from 1 to 9. that is my service number