By Daniel Fayemi


The continued relevance of the NYSC scheme has been questioned more than ever following the gruesome killing of youth corps members in the aftermath of the 2011 presidential election.

This is because innocent serving fresh graduates were targeted and cut down in their prime by some discontented elements in some Northern States (especially Bauchi) following the declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan as winner.

Decree No.24 of 22nd May 1973 which established the National Youth Service Corps  stated that it was formulated "with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity

The NYSC was created “in a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war,” according to the Federal Government.

One of those who believe that the scheme should be scrapped is Professor Segun Ogungbemi, Head of the Department of Philosophy, Adekunle Ajasin University.

Ogungbemi hinged his argument on the premise that the government is incapable of ensuring security of lives of Nigerians thus, the undergraduates deserve the right to choose to serve or not.

He said, “The time to scrap NYSC is now or it is made voluntary. The Federal Government of Nigeria does not have the security apparatus to secure its citizens anywhere in the country.

“In my view as a parent and scholar the NYSC scheme has outlived its initial purpose and usefulness. The lawmakers should begin the process of scraping it as soon as they are sworn in or make a law that makes it voluntary.

“The truth of the matter is that it is evident that our security forces cannot give Nigerians adequate security. It is a national disgrace to say the least,” Ogungbemi lamented.

Taking the crusade against the scheme even further, an Ibadan-based attorney, Oluwole Aluko, has dragged the President and the Attorney General of the Federation to court, seeking the abrogation of the decree setting up the scheme.

In the suit number FCH/IB/CS/35/2011, Aluko claims that the NYSC Decree of 1973 is a contravention of the provision of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the United Nation Universal Declaration on Human Rights and therefore null and void.

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar on the other hand feels that the benefits of the scheme far outweigh its shortcomings.

“No right-thinking person should recommend the abolition of the programme because of the misguided actions of political thugs who are ruled by emotion rather than reason. You don’t decapitate yourself to cure a headache,” Atiku said.

He said that no country that went through a civil war should take unity for granted by dismantling the gains of the NYSC, which among others include forging unity even in diversity, under the heat of passion.

He also criticized the legal action being instituted by some persons seeking to scrap the NYSC programme, saying that no nation should formulate or reverse its policies out of sentiments.

Also making a case for the continuity of the NYSC, a medical consultant with the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Dr Haruna Shehu, speaking at the Angwan-Bassa community in the Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT, during the inauguration of a refurbished borehole project embarked upon by an NYSC member, Dr Grace Obiefuna said,

“If not for NYSC, I would not have known Imo State, and because of the good experience I had during my service year, I stayed back in Imo for sometime after the programme before coming to Abuja,” he said.

“It is true that the service year has its own challenges but the calls to scrap the scheme are not in the interest of this country. This is because the borehole project we are inaugurating now is a product of NYSC, executed by somebody who is not from the FCT.” Dr Shehu added.

Other challenges that have faced the scheme in recent times include the inability of some graduates to get placements immediately after graduating which results in waiting for years in some cases before they can secure placements to serve.

There is also the big issue of sexual harassment of female youth corps members in some places where they are posted for national service.

The onus is on the Presidency and the legislators to take a second look at the scheme now that it is under censure by the society.

Source: http://www.nigeriapoliticsonline.com/theContent.aspx?page_id=12&id=38