Keep NYSC For Youths (opinion)

Adewale Adetoyese

As National Youth Service Corps, NYSC serves as a tool for national integration and unity, it also serves as a linking bridge for graduates crossing from higher institution back to the larger society.

The scheme which was established by the then military administrator of the country, General Yakubu Gowon has ever been a commendable one which is been admired and emulated globally.

Unfortunately over the years, the system of the program seems to be greater than its supposed purpose as it keeps operating traditionally despite the trending digitalization globally, making it to look like an expired scheme.

NYSC became a needless scheme when the unemployment rate remains on an alarming higher side despite the billions been spent on the program round the year.
You will agree with me that in a situation when over fifty Corps Members (Graduates) are been deployed to a school of less than a hundred students for their service, the scheme is needless.

Remember the school already has teachers who are civil servants who may be about twenty.

Tell me, are the corp members deployed to form another classroom?

After been drilled regimentally in camp for the purpose I’m yet to understand, a corp member could be rejected at his Place of Primary Assignment, making him/her an errand person of no destination.

In places where corp members are accepted, they are been treated with disgust like unwanted individuals. At times in such an establishment, there would be their own employed staff members, IT/SIWES Trainees, Freelance and contract Workers and many more.
Tell me, are they expecting corp members?

Let us be frank as countrymen, a scheme like this should be created, improved or deleted completely in accordance with the yarning and aspirations of the citizens and not to immortalize a past leader, living or dead.

If improving this scheme of dead decades seems impossible, why can’t we jointly bury it alive and let the thinkers think for our leaders and come up with better ideas.

Modern youths should not be forced to live an expired lifestyle of NYSC in the name of N19,800.

What name will you call NYSC where a BSC holder is paired to serve under a village headmaster who has a questionable NCE Certificate?

How beautiful is the Khaki where Prospective Corp Members needs to pay for their own mobilization into a federal government scheme?

Oh! For the oversized khaki or the cheap jungle boot? Thanks for the response.
A minute silence to Corper Ifeoluwadolapo, an Osun State graduate who lost her life in Kano and while obeying the Gowon-invented clarion call and others of her like.

Looking at the scheme, its management and running, it is plain that Nigerian leaders are keeping the scheme to honour General Yakubu Gowon and not because they should keep it.