Why House of Representatives is considering scrapping NYSC

Nigerians react as reps schedule a second reading of the bill

Forty-eight years after the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the House of Representatives is considering scrapping the scheme.

NYSC was established on May 22, 1973, by the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon under Decree No. 24 of 1973 as a way of reconciling and reintegrating Nigerians after the civil war between July 6, 1967, and January 15, 1970.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alteration Bill, 2020, which is seeking to repeal the NYSC Act, is billed for the second reading.

According to the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, in the explanatory memorandum of the proposal, he listed the various reasons why the NYSC should be scrapped.

It read in part, “This bill seeks to repeal Section 315(5)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended) on the following grounds:

The incessant killing of innocent corps members in some parts of the country due to banditry, religious extremism, and ethnic violence; incessant kidnapping of innocent corps members across the country

Public and private agencies/departments are no longer recruiting able and qualified Nigerian youths, thus relying heavily on the availability of corps members who are not being well remunerated and get discarded with impunity at the end of their service year without any hope of being gainfully employed

Due to insecurity across the country, the National Youth Service Corps management now considers posting corps members to their geopolitical zone, thus defeating one of the objectives of setting up the service corps, i.e. developing common ties among the Nigerian youths and promoting national unity and integration.

In reaction to the news, Nigerians took to Twitter to express their views on the proposal

The NYSC should not be scrapped.Its needed now more than ever before.Many Nigerians have never known anywhere other than their hometown and University town if not for NYSC.Its mandate should be expanded to give participants full military training in the face of insecurity.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) May 24, 2021

https://twitter.com/Josh4Humanity/status/1396916905391312904

They closed schools in the North because of insecurity, the same country is sending NYSC members to the North. If Education can be suspended in the North because of insecurity, I don't see any reason why NYSC should be posting anyone to the North at this period of time.
— UNCLE AJ (@UNCLE_AJALA) May 17, 2021

If the NYSC here would even give me the opportunity, I'll hold freelancing classes for free. No payment. Just let me teach people what will help them after they leave. But approaching them already looks like work. Abeg.
— Your Daddy (@ToyosiGodwin) May 24, 2021

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