The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme has gone through thick and thin in its chequered history in Nigeria. It was established by the Yakubu Gowon administration on May 22, 1973 to promote national unity and foster common ties among Nigerian youths following the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 – 1970. Initially, university graduates, polytechnics and colleges of education were mobilized for the one-year mandatory scheme. Later, the Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE) graduates were dropped from the scheme after the 1984/85 service year. Exempted from service are those above 30 years.
At 52, the scheme has made some modest achievements. It has made youths to experience other parts of the country outside their own region. It has also contributed to our unity and development by fostering friendship and lasting marital relationships. Some corps members have left worthy legacies where they served. Some contributed to community developments by helping to build projects such as bridges, health care centres, market stalls, classroom blocks, among others.
In 2020, a corps member, Samuel Edegbeyi, reportedly constructed a modern rainwater harvesting system project at Akama, Amorji Community of Enugu State. Edegbeyi, who hails from Ibadan, Oyo State, served at Coal City University as a graduate teaching assistant. Corps members have helped in organizing extra-mural classes for students and adult literacy campaigns. Some have participated in environmental sanitation exercises and vaccination campaigns against cervical cancer for young girls.
Through the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD), some corps members have also helped to address health issues in rural areas. Some have gained practical skills and experience through opportunities provided by the NYSC. However, insecurity is one of the daunting challenges facing the scheme. Some corps members have been kidnapped during the service year. For instance, eight prospective corps members were kidnapped in Zamfara State in August 2023. They were on their way to Sokoto from Akwa Ibom State for their mandatory national service when the incident happened. They spent months in captivity. It was not until August 2024 that the last of them was rescued by security agencies.
Many of them have died in accidents. Five corps members from the same Akwa Ibom State died in a car accident in 2021. They were travelling to Katsina for orientation when the incident occurred. Some corps members have also died during election duties in some parts of the country. This is partly why some of them reject postings to certain states on account of insecurity. Invariably, some of them are also rejected where they are posted to do their primary assignment.
Some other nasty experiences they face include harassment and bullying in the work place. The recent experience of a female corps member, Ushie Uguamaye, serving in Lagos is a typical example. For criticizing President Bola Tinubu in a viral TikTok video, Uguamaye went through all sorts of intimidation by government agents and NYSC authorities. They go through all this despite enduring poor pay and other welfare issues. The corps members have had to endure the paltry N33,000 the Federal Government paid them monthly. President Tinubu increased the allowance to N77,000 in July 2024. But government dilly-dallied in paying this money until March 2024.
This is why some critics have called for the scrapping of the scheme. Some others have demanded that it should be reformed or made voluntary. The festering fault lines and mutual hatred and suspicion among the various ethnic groups in the country appear to give strength to the stand of those who believe the scheme has lost its value. Some of our politicians worsen the negative perception about our unity with their actions which tend to promote ethnic divisions among the people. Certain political appointments which favour some ethnic groups over others is also a serious problem.
We believe the scheme is good. What is required is for the relevant authorities to address the identified lapses. Security of corps members must be prioritized. No corps member should be posted to states or areas that are known to have high rate of insecurity. The scheme should also incorporate entrepreneurship training with the hope of giving the corps members start-up capital to start business at the end of the service year. Those who cannot run business can be given money to learn practical skills and establish themselves.
Gladly, the Federal Government said it was in the process of making the scheme stronger and more impactful to the Nigerian youths. Among the key concerns of the government are corps members’ safety, infrastructural challenges and the scheme’s relevance in Nigeria’s socio-economic environment. The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, indicated recently that a committee had been set up to carry out these major changes. Nigerians eagerly await these changes. It is extremely important that the NYSC is either reformed to make it more impactful or scrapped.