A BRIEF INTO NIGERIA'S NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS SCHEME 

Did you know that the Nigerian National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program will on 22 May 2023 have been in existence for 50 years?

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), a program set up by the Nigerian government during the military regime by decree No. 24 to involve Nigerian graduates in nation-building and the development of the country, was created on 22 May 1973 as an avenue for the reconciliation, reconstruction, and rebuilding of the nation after the civil war.

Since 1973, with no military conscription in Nigeria, graduates of universities and later polytechnics have been required to take part in the National Youth Service Corps program for one year, known as national service year. Ahmadu Ali is the first Director-General of the NYSC until 1975.

Nigerian graduates are ineligible for employment in governmental establishments (and most private establishments) until they have completed the mandatory one year service or obtained the relevant exemptions.

Corps members (participants in the National Youth Service Scheme) are posted to states other than their state of origin where they are expected to mix with people from different ethnic groups, social and family backgrounds, and learn the culture of the indigenes in the location they are posted to. This action is aimed at bringing about unity in the country and help the youths appreciate other ethnic groups. 

There is an "orientation" period of approximately three weeks spent in a military controlled "camp" away from family and friends. The camps are situated across the 36 states of the federation. There is also a "passing out ceremony" at the end of the three weeks orientation camp after which corp members are posted to their Place of Primary Assignment (PPA). They are expected to work as full-time staff at their PPA with exception of one working day devoted for the execution of community development service popularly called CDS.

After eleven months at their PPA, corp member are allowed one month of vacation before their final passing out ceremony where they would be issued certificates of completion.

To be eligible to participate in the compulsory one year service, a graduate must be below or not above the age of 30 years upon graduation, or else he/she will be given a Certificate of Exemption, which is also equivalent to the NYSC Discharge Certificate. A graduate who graduated before 30 years but skipped the service year, will still be eligible since his certificate of graduation was dated before he clocked 30 years of age. 

NYSC is compulsory in the sense that the graduates of the country can't request an exemption by themselves, unless they are disabled, have served in the military or paramilitary for a period of more than one year or are older than 30 when they graduated. Part-time graduates (CEP) are given exemptions, since they're not allowed to serve.

However, the program has been met with criticism from a large portion of the country and complaints from Corps members about their remuneration. A few youth carrying out the NYSC program have been killed in the regions where they were sent due to religious, ethnic or political violence.

Besides the issue of security, many have questioned the continued importance of the program and have called for a dialogue in this regard. Recently there was a call for the NYSC to be scrapped. The bill was sponsored by Hon Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a Federal Representative representing Andoni/ Opobo/ Nkoro constituency in the 9th National Assembly, listed insecurity in the country, incessant killing of corp members and inability of firms to retain corp members after service due to failing economy as some of the reasons why the NYSC should be scrapped.

The call for the scrapping of NYSC has been met with mixed feelings. While some past leaders are against the scrapping of it because its gains overweigh its loses, some Nigerians feel the scheme has lost its use and should be scrapped to avoid endangering the lives of innocent Nigerians to insecurity and unnecessary one year stress.

What is your opinion on the NYSC? Has it served out its usefulness and should be scrapped, or it should modified to accommodate current challenges in the country? Let's have your thoughts in the comment section.

Image credit: The Guardian Nigeria