The NYSC is a mandatory one year service of graduates from tertiary institutions to their fatherland in Nigeria, this program was designed by the Yakubu Gowon administration to facilitate national integration and unity in 1973,this program in some aspects has achieved that,but while in some areas it is adjudged not to and more needs to be done,some even said that it needs to be scrapped..

but so far so good,how do you see the NYSC scheme in this last fifty years?
Is it worth celebrating?
What are the failures and successes of the NYSC?
What should it improve upon?

Let's discuss

I did my youth service when NYSC was 25 years old. That was in 1998.

Then we were given a questionnaire to fill on the way forward for the scheme.

What I suggested then is what I am still going to suggest now on the way forward for this noble scheme.

Presently as it stands , NYSC has outlived its usefulness as originally planned.

A very laudable program that requires modification and twerking to suit the present day Nigeria.

It should not be scrapped but rather restructured.

The scheme should be reduced to six months.

But the mandatory one year (monthly) allowance must be maintained.

The scheme should be broken down into three phases.

Each phase should last just two months.

During this six months every corp member must enjoy his/her monthly allowance.

At the end of the six months every corp member should be disengaged and six months allowance paid in full to prepare them for live in the society.

Phase 1- Security Training

Every corp member should be made to undergo two months compulsory security/military training.

The most basic security/military training must be given to every Nigerian graduate.

This is what is obtainable in Israel and the Korea nations.

At the long run, the country will have a pool of youth already endowed with the basics in private and public defence mechanisms who can always and easily be called upon in terms of emergency.

Other nations have military reserves and these can serve the same purpose.

Phase 2 - Food security

For the purpose of food security , depending on the season of call up, all corp member should be engaged in one form of agriculture or the other for the next two months.

Every state as a matter of fact must provide land for farming, facilities for poultry, piggery, fishery etc.

Depending on the season, any batch that comes in, continues from where the last batch ended.

For example, if it is for cropping, if batch A does the planting , batch B or C can do the harvesting and as well the marketing if need be.

Every state must provide silos for storage after harvesting.

The States should as well partner NYSC and NGOs with the procurement and provision of necessary preservation equipments like cold rooms, drying/heating equipments.

Mills should be built in areas where cereals and legumes are foremost.

Hatchery facilities should also be procured .

Phase 3 - National Orientation

This is the phase that takes care of inter cultural and inter religious relationships of the diverse tribes and religions that make up the country.

Here every corp member must be taught all they need to know about their host community, state and tribe.

This is where the seed of "ONE" Nigeria must be sown.

Integration and assimilation should be the bed rock of this phase.


In my opinion , the era of one who read literature in the university having a god father in NNPC and consequently securing a job in NNPC will be a thing of the past.

A History graduate can no longer serve in CBN because he has an oga at top.

With the plan or restructure every corp member will be highly productive to the nation.

Not this idea of CS, that doesn't have meaning.

To me this is a better way to go.