The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, Brig.-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga, on Monday said calls for the scrapping of the scheme were biased and unfair.

Tsiga made the remark in Keffi at the opening of a three-day interactive ‘Corpers’ Forum’ with the theme “Enhancing Youth Participation in National Development,” the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

According to the NYSC DG, “The forum is a sign of success as it will enable corps members open up and air their views on the challenges facing the scheme, as well as exchange of ideas on work ethics, corps members’ welfare, national security, among others.

“One current challenge is the growing clamour for the scrapping of the scheme. Such calls are not honest or necessary, given the achievements of the scheme in various areas of national development.

“Sectors like health and education have witnessed the input of these members, including national unity and community development, so there is an elitist bias in such calls.

“It is unfair for anyone to call for the scrapping of the only programme that affords the youth the opportunity to express themselves and to participate in the development process of the nation.’’

The Director, Corps Welfare and Inspection, Dr. John Abhuere, said the forum, which began in 1993, was to bridge communication gaps and give fresh breath to policy articulation.

“This forum is a deliberate policy initiative aimed at providing the opportunity for cross-fertilisation of ideas within the NYSC family.
http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201002160544142

As far as am concerned the programme has outlived its usefulness.