As I join the many Nigerians to congratulate the NYSC for marking this half-century milestone in impacting the lives of millions of Nigerians, I wish to voice out my complaints about the scheme and hope they will influence an overhaul or total discontinuation of the programme. I acknowledge that things mentioned in this writeup may be unpopular. I will discuss them notwithstanding so that more and more people would understand these hidden but serious flaws and support this call for change. 

 

NYSC discriminates against university and polytechnic graduates with higher diplomas

 

Let us consider this scenario to understand how the current NYSC implementation is discriminatory to university and polytechnic graduates with higher diplomas: A university or polytechnic graduate invests at least 16 years of formal education with lots of other resources and graduates with a degree or higher national diploma. On the same day, other youths somewhere in Nigeria, probably with less time and resources spent, obtain their secondary school certificate (SSCE/NECO), ordinary national diplomas (ND), teaching (NCE), or certificates in other trades. Based on their qualifications and under normal circumstances, all of these youths should immediately qualify for permanent employment in Nigeria either with the federal/state civil service or within the private sector. Sadly, while the ND, NCE, SSCE and graduates of other trades potentially get permanently employed today, the so-called university and higher-diploma polytechnic graduates will have to wait at least one more year to qualify for permanent employment or even postgraduate studies in most universities. They must fulfill the youth service requirement imposed upon them by the NYSC scheme. In the Nigerian system that claims to promote fairness and equality for all, while a group of its youths are ready to get permanent employment upon completing various levels of training, another group is barred from the same employment for at least one year because they haven’t fulfilled the national service requirements. This unfair and discriminatory delay becomes even more frustrating for the latter group who are eager to apply their knowledge and skills to develop themselves and their country when national service gets delayed for various familiar reasons beyond their control. It is rather baffling that no one has spoken out against or moved to stop this discriminatory practice that has lasted for 50 years and is set to continue well into the future. Why should the Nigerian authorities continue with such unfair and punishing treatment of their graduates? Why would NYSC further delay the ambitions of young people fresh with learning and eager to make an impact in their career and society?

According to Section 1 of the National Youth Service Corps Act, in Chapter N84 of the Laws of Nigeria [1], NYSC was established with the vision of encouraging and developing common ties among Nigerian youths, promoting national unity, and developing Nigerian youths and Nigeria into a great and dynamic economy. Because no specific distinctions were made, I will be correct by saying that Nigerian youths being referred to in Section 1 of the Act are young Nigerians in every part of the country, formally educated or not, male and female, tradesmen and women of various ethnicities, school, polytechnic and university students and graduates etc. It also outlines the various objectives of the NYSC to be achieved through the participation of Nigerian youths. Why then does Section 2 of the Act suddenly deviate from having all Nigerian youths participate in the scheme to only focus on university and polytechnic graduates with higher diplomas (and NCE holders only up till 1984), when this group makes up only a small percentage of youths in Nigeria. Should this huge but critically important task be left for only a small fraction of Nigerians to perform? Why does it exclude other youths from the project of nation building, cultural integration, religious tolerance and so on? No wonder why graduates sent on national assignments have been harassed, molested or killed by those (youths) they went to serve [2] [3] [4] [5] and no wonder Nigeria still grapples with issues of ethnic and religious intolerance and so many other societal malfunctions after half a century of the launch of the NYSC vision.

 

Increasing risk and danger to the lives of participants

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NYSC requires that participants travel from their states of origin to other states in Nigeria to perform national service. The risk of injury, loss of life and property of participants in the programme increases with deteriorating transportation and security infrastructure and systems in Nigeria. There have been several incidents where people going for their national assignments have died on their way there from either road accidents or armed robbery attacks [6] [7]. Furthermore, there have been several cases of participants being attacked, molested and killed by the very people they went to serve [5]. Why should authorities continue sending its youths to such a programme that poses such risk to them? What have authorities done to stop the molestation and killing of its youth (by other youth)? In the light of its policies, why should people be forced against their will to travel to places they wouldn’t normally go? Isn’t this practice similar to slavery or imprisonment? Shouldn’t Nigerian authorities take safeguarding the lives and welfare of its people more seriously?

We know very well that we don’t have to travel too far from home to find and interact with people from other ethnic groups and beliefs, or to participate in humanitarian or nation-building projects for we all know they exist everywhere we look. The NYSC Act in Section 3 mentions that youths would be posted to work in areas of need and people may argue that several parts of Nigeria are deficient in professionals like teachers and healthcare workers. I suggest State authorities work towards making all parts of their states attractive enough for youths to live and work, and invest in educating and training youths to fill such deficient areas. They should work hard on improving security, amenities, and providing attractive remunerations for such services. Recall that these are the things they promise to deliver to their electorate when they vie for public office.

 

Poor remuneration and wrongful postings

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Why should graduates be paid meager salaries or allowances after they’ve spent invaluable time and resources earning their various degrees? As many graduates are eager to start earning to pay back loans and cater well for their dependents, paying them an amount less or equal to the national minimum wage is grossly inhumane. Sometimes the risks undertaken by NYSC participants in performing national assignments far outweigh their remuneration. 

It may be argued that the NYSC programme ensuring graduates getting steady incomes for the full 12 months of their national assignment is much better than earning nothing at all. I would encourage everyone on the contrary not to settle for less and negotiate better livable compensation packages. 

Another area of great concern is the wrongful posting of NYSC participants irrespective of their training to teach subjects in primary and secondary schools. This practice is faulty and should be stopped immediately because it is of utmost importance to build primary and secondary school students on a very solid educational foundation. As stated in UNESCO’s recommendation concerning the status of teachers [8], ‘teaching should be regarded as a profession’, and teaching requires the teachers’ ‘expert knowledge and specialised skills acquired and maintained through rigorous and continuing study.’ If there is a shortage of teachers in a state, the authorities should invest in training teachers, or advertise for qualified teachers from far and wide and pay them competitive salaries for their invaluable services. NYSC participants should no longer be unfairly treated with wrongful postings.

 

Recommendations

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I suggest the current implementation of NYSC should be discontinued as soon as possible because of its discriminative nature, unresolved risks and hazards that its participants continue to face, underemployment with extremely poor remuneration, and the lack of a recent evaluation of its importance to the lives of participants and the country in general. 

 

Because unity and tolerance amongst Nigerians is critical, NYSC may be replaced with a programme that includes all Nigerians irrespective of age, gender, training or ethnic group. From childhood, people should be taught about tolerance and service to their immediate and larger community. They should be guided towards tolerance for others and patriotism for their country throughout life. An example programme can be built from the following 3-level model:

 

Primary school level: The programme may be a compulsory part of the primary school social studies curriculum. Children should be taught about the importance of looking out for fellow humans, taught about different customs, peoples and religions, and taken for supervised excursions around villages, towns, and cities around Nigeria. To encourage the participation of parents, children can be given take-home essay-writing assignments about practical experiences and ways they, their peers and families can participate in various aspects of nation building. 

 

Secondary school level: Children/youth at secondary school could be taught more advanced topics on tolerance, duties towards other humans and duties towards the state and nation. It may take the form of more practical learning that includes supervised group projects and volunteering. Students could earn compulsory WAEC and NECO (or UBE) credits from the programme. Requirements at the secondary level could mark the end of the compulsory part of the new programme.

 

Postsecondary level: This part could be a totally voluntary service where people can volunteer their time and resources for the welfare of others in their localities and beyond. 

 

Current funding dedicated to the NYSC can be channeled to this new programme. 

Funding can also come from national and international donors, and from revenue-generating projects launched in the new scheme. Authorities should also not forget to do regular reviews of the programme to evaluate its successes to make it safer, stronger, more vibrant and more inclusive for the good of participants and the country.

 

References

 

[1]  "The Complete 2004 Laws of Nigeria," [Online]. Available: https://placng.org/lawsofnigeria/laws/NATIONAL%20YOUTH%20SERVICE%20CORPS%20ACT.pdf. [Accessed 2 June 2023].

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[2] L. Anthony, "Gunmen rob, rape corps members at their lodge in Uyo," Daily Post, 6 July 2022. [Online]. Available: https://dailypost.ng/2022/07/06/gunmen-rob-rape-corps-members-at-their-lodge-in-uyo/. [Accessed 3 June 2023].

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[3] N. Nseyen, "Suspected hoodlums attack NYSC camp in Abuja," Daily Post, 27 October 2020. [Online]. Available: https://dailypost.ng/2020/10/27/breaking-suspected-hoodlums-attack-nysc-camp-in-abuja/. [Accessed 3 June 2023].

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[4] J. O. Nwachukwu, "Presidential election: NYSC reacts to reported killing of corps member in Abuja," Daily Post, 26 February 2023. [Online]. Available: https://dailypost.ng/2023/02/26/presidential-election-nysc-reacts-to-reported-killing-of-corps-member-in-abuja/. [Accessed 3 June 2023].

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[5]  Vanguard, "Police confirm 7 corps members dead in Bauchi," Vanguard, 25 April 2011. [Online]. Available: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/04/police-confirm-7-corps-members-dead-in-bauchi-violence/. [Accessed 3 June 2023].

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[6]  Vanguard News Nigeria, "Black Wednesday: 5 prospective NYSC members die in Abuja auto crash," Vanguard, 28 July 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/07/black-wednesday-5-prospective-nysc-members-die-in-abuja-auto-crash/. [Accessed 3 June 2023].

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[7] The Punch, "NYSC confirms attack on corps members, debunks abduction," The Punch, 20 December 2020. [Online]. Available: https://punchng.com/nysc-confirms-attack-on-corps-members-debunks-abduction/. [Accessed 3 June 2023].

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[8]  UNESCO, "Recommendation concerning the status of teachers," United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 5 October 1996. [Online]. Available: https://en.unesco.org/about-us/legal-affairs/recommendation-concerning-status-teachers. [Accessed 3 June 2023].

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[9] T. Orokpo, "How NYSC member was killed, others kidnapped along Jere-Abuja Road," Idoma Voice, 24 December 2020. [Online]. Available: https://idomavoice.com/how-nysc-member-was-killed-others-kidnapped-along-jere-abuja-road/. [Accessed 3 June 2023].