NYSC Is Still Relevant —Stakeholders

Stakeholders in Sokoto State have criticised recent calls for the scrapping of the NYSC scheme, saying it has a major role to play in the country’s national unity.

A cross section of the stakeholders said in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Sokoto that the calls were “unpatriotic and uncharitable.”

NAN reports that the killing of some youth corps members in the post-election violence in some northern states had led to the calls for the cancellation of the scheme.

Alhaji Usman Shehu, the state Coordinator of the scheme, who underscored the relevance of the scheme to national unity, said it had helped to move the country beyond the post war era as envisaged by its founders.

“The scheme has also become part of the country’s socio-economic development agenda,” he added.

Shehu said those calling for the cancellation of the scheme did not understand how much it had contributed to the socio-economic development of the country.

He cited the NYSC Youth Empowerment Programme, which he said was aimed at encouraging and empowering corps members to engage in profitable post-service ventures.

Other similar progammes, Shehu noted, included NYSC/NDE Enterpreneurship Training, NYSC Foundation Programmes, NYSC/MDGs War Against Poverty and NYSC Ventures Loan Scheme.

“The programmes are aimed at eradicating the post-service unemployment challenges faced by corps members,’’ he said.

Alhaji Bello Tangaza, a former corps member, said the scheme should not be scrapped,

stressing that it had played an important role in developing the various sectors of the economy.

He noted that the scheme enabled members to contribute to community development services and projects, participate in government programmes and policies as well as undergo re-orientation.

Two other corps members, Miss Jennifer Onyekachi and Malama Salima Salisu, decried the killing of the corps members as unfortunate.

The duo, who described the incident as an act of God, commended the Federal Government for the N5 million given to each of the affected families.

They said: “Apart from the N5 million, government also promised to employ the children of the deceased.

“Money or any worldly thing cannot replace the lives of the deceased corps members, but we should regard such unfortunate incidents as the unavoidable act of God.

“Scrapping the scheme at this time of Nigeria’s history will be a great disservice to Nigeria and Nigerians,’’ they said.

They, however, called for the restructuring of the scheme to further strengthen its objectives.