Last week, a bill on the discontinuation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was introduced to the House of Representatives by Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP, Rivers)
The bill titled "The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alteration Bill, 2020", listed various reasons why the NYSC should be scrapped. Some of these were the deteriorating security situation in the country which now compels the Scheme's management to post corps members within their respective geo-political zones, effectively defeating the objective of promoting regional integration as well as the exploitation of Corps members by employers who engage them as cheap source of labour, and refuse to employ suitably qualified manpower from the labour market, thereby increasing unemployment.
Set up in 1973 by after the end of the Nigerian Civil War by the Gen. Yakubu Gowon military administration, the National Youth Service Corps was supposed to be instrumental in nation building and the development of the country and participation is mandatory for all Nigerians upon graduation.
The twin objectives were to address the near absence of cross-cultural understanding and appreciation that existed among citizens of the young Nation, perceived to have contributed to the Civil War as well as that of scarcity of man power required to fast track development, especially to rural areas by young Nigerians who have acquired skills and knowledge.
The emotion of the moment supports the amendment being proposed by Hon. Abiante.
However, it is important to note that the narrative that the scheme has outlived its usefulness is inaccurate. The presence of a hostile environment to the scheme cannot be equated to an absence of its need.
Unlike many countries that we are wont to compare ourselves with, Nigeria did not have a cohesive pre-independence story as a united people from the onset of our journey to nationhood. An understanding of the country is also very important for the development of patriotism. Schemes, programs and institutions that promote and strengthen this process should be encouraged - without denying inherent shortcomings - and given maximum support and the obstacles to their success collectively dealt with.
Focus should be on eliminating the threats to maximising the benefits of the scheme rather than ending the scheme. Within the seed of the scheme are elements that strengthen us as a nation. Destroying that seed because of the hostile environment to its germination is a vote to for the destruction of that potential. We are inadvertently, working from different sides, to attack the fabric of our unity and the journey to nationhood.
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The contractions we are battling with today are a consequence of the attempts to live together but we cannot overcome them if we do not understand and appreciate each other. That is an experience you cannot have from afar. A union requires work, communication and learning about each other.
Pre-1973 when the NYSC scheme was founded, one could literally count the number of people who actually knew anywhere or anything about the nation they had recently become a part of, other than their home grounds.
The NYSC made significant gains in helping to narrow that gap. The fact that we are still battling to gain trust, respect and an appreciation of each other as parts of this union is evidence enough that much still needs to be done.
Security is the major concern today that most people express. This cannot be waived aside.
Insecurity is a major threat to our livelihood in Nigeria today and this sadly cuts across all sectors: our jobs, businesses, access to education, health, our social, religious and political lives are all under threat.
We call upon the Federal Government, state governments and indeed all Nigerians to pull together in this one direction. As long as criminal elements continue to roam free, it is not only the NYSC that faces an existential threat ...everything else about us as a people are in the line of fire.
We cannot and should not surrender our pursuits towards a better future because of the criminal intents of a few.
