Should NYSC be removed? Debate over relevance in modern Nigeria

The recent abduction of 35 NYSC members including four military officers in Enugu as reported by Sahara Reporters. The abductors in their usual fashion had demanded huge sums of money going in millions from their parents or loved ones for their safe release otherwise threatened with death. While others have been released after paying the proposed ransom, others still remain in captivity with very limited hope for survival. In October, 2023 some corps members who were abducted enroute to their place of assignment in Zamfara State from Akwa Ibom state, were eventually rescued, thanks to the intervention of the Nigerian military. These are just a few of thousands if not millions of cases that young individuals have been put into, making many still wonder “is NYSC still worth it?”

For decades, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has been a rite of passage for Nigerian graduates, aimed at fostering unity, national integration, and skill development. However, in the face of Nigeria’s worsening economic situation, high unemployment rates, and security concerns, many have begun to question its relevance. Should NYSC be scrapped, restructured, or maintained despite its looming challenges?

The Original Vision: A Noble but Fading Ideal?

To begin this piece properly, permit me to walk down the memory lane. Established in 1973 by General Yakubu Gowon, NYSC was designed to heal the wounds of the civil war by promoting national integration. The program sought to expose young Nigerians to diverse cultures, helping them understand and appreciate different ethnic and religious groups. It also aimed at skill development and nation building by deploying graduates to various states to work in education, health, and other public sectors.

However, in recent years, the program has deviated from its founding principles. The rising issue of insecurity across different parts and Nigeria’s economic woes have made the idea of national integration to be relegated to the backseat. Many, corps members no longer serve outside their states of residence or even away from places with relative security and peace due to security concerns and the safety of their lives. Thus, the program initiated by the Nigerian government in fostering unity and nation building have become a bureaucratic routine and paper work “who know who” that offer little impact to either individual or national development.

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Economic Burden: Can Nigeria Still Afford NYSC?

To address critically the issues that has made many Nigerians to doubt the relevance of NYSC, Nigeria’s economic struggles is a lens, I consider should be used in viewing the reality of the program. It is no news or fairy tale that the economic situation of the country has been at an abysmal low, inflation is on exponential increase which begs the question can the government still afford to sustain NYSC? The country is grappling with inflation, poor revenue, and rising debt. The federal government spends billions annually on corps members’ allowances, accommodation, and administrative costs.

Critics like myself argue that these funds invested on NYSC could be redirected to job creation programs, vocational training, or entrepreneurship support for young Nigerians. With the rising unemployment rate, over 4.3% according to recent estimates, NYSC does little to provide long-term employment. Many corps members spend their service year in underpaid teaching jobs or redundant office roles, adding little value to their career prospects. Imagine someone with a degree in law, teaching government in a school that lacks basic educational facilities like buildings and books, such a thought, I feel very sorry about. Howbeit, why can’t this money spent on the program, just be given to fresh graduates immediately to be used on their career?

Security Concerns: A Program That Endangers Youth?

Perhaps, the biggest threat to NYSC relevance in today’s Nigeria is insecurity. Corps members have been kidnapped, attacked, and even killed in various parts of the country. Several states in the North are considered unsafe, and many parents now go to great lengths to ensure their children are posted to safer regions. The program’s core idea of sending fresh graduates to different states for national integration is no longer feasible when their safety cannot be guaranteed. If corps members are now selectively posted to “safe zones,” does NYSC still serve its purpose?

The Decline of National Integration: Has NYSC Lost Its Relevance?

In all that has been discussed in this piece, there still remains a critical question that needs to be addressed. NYSC was supposed to promote national unity and improve national development but has it succeeded? With ethnic tensions still prevalent, religious intolerance rising, and secessionist movements gaining grounds daily, it is crystal clear that the program has not significantly bridged Nigeria’s divisions, let alone enhanced national development.

Furthermore, many corps members are not integrated into the local communities where they are posted. How many young individuals who have passed through this program can beat their chest and say that adore the religion, language or people of the place that they were posted to, I leave you to answer. Instead, they often stay within their own cultural or ethnic groups, limiting the program’s impact on national unity.

Should NYSC Be Scrapped or Reformed?

While some like myself argue that NYSC should be abolished entirely because it is evident that it has lost its purpose of national integration, others suggest some reforms or rehabilitation measures to make it more impactful. Possible solutions include; making NYSC optional. Now this reformatory measure, I insist the government should take. Making it optional will cut down the huge cost used in running the affairs of the program. Graduates should have the choice to either participate in NYSC or enroll in skill acquisition programs that suits their chosen field of study and can boost their employability.

Another measure to adopt in order to restore the relevance of the program that seems to be declining is State-based deployment. Instead of nationwide deployment, corps members could serve in their home states, reducing security risks. More also, partnership with private sector can create a better initiative. The government should collaborate with private companies to ensure corps members gain valuable work experience that aligns with market demands.

Conclusion

The NYSC scheme, though founded on noble principles, has struggled to adapt to Nigeria’s current realities. Insecurity, economic hardship, and limited job prospects have diminished its effectiveness. While scrapping it outright may appear to be too drastic, which I really do not consider because similar measures have been taken by the government overtime on other schemes and public initiative, take for example, the petrol subsidy. However, the urgent reforms that others have argued are necessary to make it more relevant.

Moreover, the question remains: Is NYSC still a valuable tool for nation-building, or has it become an outdated system that no longer serves its purpose? Nigeria must decide whether to preserve, restructure, or phase out the program to better align with the country’s evolving needs.