NATIONAL UNITY AND NYSC: A CASE OF 1914
The amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 was a milestone and a watershed in Nigerian history. It gave Nigeria its present size and shape. It also gave Nigeria its present complexity, one measure of which is the diversity of cultures.
After the amalgamation of the Northern Nigerian Protectorate to the Southern Nigerian Protectorate to become a nation in 1914 by Lord Lugard, Nigeria a country whose motto is “peace and unity” had known the truth far from peace and unity. The country remains deeply divided, with regular inter-ethnic clashes and inter-religion clashes growing in intensity. BOKO HARAM in the north and militant group e.g. MEND in the south.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was created by decree No 24 of May 22, 1973 as part of the post civil war plan to “reconstruct, reconcile, and rebuild the country after the bitter civil war which claimed millions of lives”. It was designed by the military government of General Yakubu Gowon to foster national integration and unity through the posting of young graduates to places outside their home state. But the youth corps has become targets of attacks in ethnic and religious riots in the country for reasons that are yet unknown.
Even after 39 years of the NYSC, a scheme established to foster peace and unity, it seems to have lost its value and purpose. Corps members’ lives are in perpetual danger as many get killed and maimed while “serving their fatherland”. At this juncture, it must be noted that what the British amalgamated was the administration of the North and the South, and not the people of the North and the South. That is one of the root causes of the problems of Nigeria and Nigerians. At present, only the geographical locations are amalgamated and not even the administration and people.
The NYSC scheme in Nigeria which is close to 40 years old seems to be seeing a critical need of re-visioning as it fails to achieve its aims and objectives. NYSC established in post civil war (1967 – 1970) was to, among many other things, raise the moral tone of Nigerian youths, make them more amenable to mobilization in the National interest, inculcating a sense of patriotism and promote NATIONAL UNITY. While these objectives are undoubtedly noble, the crisis that has apparently bedeviled their implementation, has compelled a re-think of its founding vision.


NYSC not fulfilling its Aim and Objective lies in the negative political vibrations emanating from the larger Nigeria. Southerners were killed and kidnapped in the north. Post presidential election event, many southerners were killed after the declaration of president Jonathan as the winner of April 16 presidential election, southern extraction posted to the north are being evacuated by their respective state governments. Where is the UNITY? The corp members were employed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as ad hoc staff to superintend over the elections, they were harmed in return.
In conclusion, unless youth service is linked to other political and social processes of national transformation, sporadic outbreak of patriotism, and/or general tourism and sightseeing as some participant might cynically (sardonically/ironically) see service in other parts of the country, its major achievement and the transformative potential for the youth, for society and NATIONAL UNITY would remain a MIRAGE. Scrapping of the scheme won’t be an option, but there should be a serious consideration of restructuring to achieve a similar goal of national integration, peace and unity without endangering the lives of young graduates.


OBISESAN M.T (BISHOPTEE)
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

Not a bad formula.
Would only work with civilized humans.
Not Nigerians.