Uche Okoro
Based on the decree number 24 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the National Youth Service corps (N.Y.S.C), is a scheme created for the encouragement and development of national ties among Nigerian youths. After the Civil War in 1970, it became necessary for national reconciliation and reconstruction among the different ethnic, religious and political divides that bedevilled the country during and after the war. Precisely on May 22, 1973, the then government of General Yakubu Gowon came out with a scheme capable of ensuring interaction by Nigerian graduates with the intention of restoring unity, peace and stability in the country. This is the genesis of our beloved National Youths Service Corps, NYSC. The scheme has its other core values, such as patriotism, integrity, obedience, service, teamwork, commitment, efficiency, etc.
The continuity of this exercise from its inception in 1973 till date without truncation is worth recognition. Many kudos to the government and the NYSC board for upholding and keeping the scheme functional against all odds. Noted also are its numerous achievements and impact on Nigerian youths, and all the grand experiences of the service year, especially during the camp orientation. The orientation is the rite for the Nigerian graduates before ushering them into the larger society, the aspect which many love so much and is adjudged as the crux of the whole exercise. Let’s discuss camp experience in my next article.
Nonetheless, even as much as we appreciate the government for the work done so far, it is also a ripe time that we retreat to ask how far this endeavours has translated into achieving the expected goals of its fundamental existence in this contemporary time. A critical look will allow you see that we still have a lot to do towards achieving these objectives. Well, one can quickly attribute the major challenges to overpopulation and other related factors. Hence, what matters is how we attend to such inevitable changes. The rapid increase in population, which affects the number of graduating students and which in turn gives birth to more people than the available job opportunities, is an issue that must be dealt with. The inept administrative wisdom to arrest these downsides, I believe, is the reason for our inability to attain most of our dreamt heights as a nation.
I make bold to disclose one obvious matter that has eaten deep into the fabrics of our nation: that of the gap between reality and formality. Formality in this context means tradition while reality means purpose. Bringing it closer, it is a formality, for instance, that a teacher goes to class for his lectures but never minds whether the students really learn or not. Thus the reality or purpose achieved when a teacher goes into class may be guaranteed. Concerning the NYSC, the dream to make it impact on the development of the Nigerian youth, which I consider perfect, has not become a reality. Yet for formality sake, the programmes are being carried out, but in reality? No! I note that the whole idea of N.Y.S.C. is to actually instill core values in the Nigerian youth but we are far from getting this.
To this end, I recall some events that take place in the orientation camp, such as skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development – S.A.E.D., meant to develop skills in the youth. For now, it is more or less a formality to have three days of S.A.E.D. programme attended. What is the reality of acquiring these skills within this very short period even when we have the rest of the year to accommodate them? The question is, if the board could deem it fit to introduce such a laudable programme owing to the unemployment problem in the country, which in every right thinking opinion is a wonderful idea, why should they not then attend to its execution with complete sincerity of mind and strength. One may also ask: of what importance are the numerous lectures most times under the scotching sun and in an unbearable, overstretched time even when nobody seems to be listening during camp orientation. By formality the lectures are delivered but the reality or the impact on the receivers becomes a question, I, therefore, suggest a change in such activities, so we can achieve the great goals.
A follow-up as we discuss the issue of skill and unemployment is another discouraging practice in Nigeria, which accords more value to a paper certificate than one’s intellectual displays and productivity. The former, which has been a major criterion for deserving employment both in public and private sectors in Nigeria, has also been a major reason for the decay in skill attainment as a result of its non-recognition. This is also why many go to school today, read during exams only to pass for a better certificate rather than better knowledge. It is a fact that ninety per cent of Nigerian students cram during exams, thereafter forget everything in the next few days. It is on this basis that I laud the N.Y.S.C. board for trying to correct some of these anomalies by a good number of programmes – but only that they should be done rightly.
Another issue that needs urgent attention towards rebuilding the fading glory of the NYSC is the issue of the place of primary assignment. It is pertinent at this time that we flaunt the ugly phase of this area before the public because of its importance and for the fact that it accommodates the basic part of the service to the fatherland. It is so pathetic that a corps member has to tour every part of the state just to have one place accepting him or her for the primary assignment. At times, it takes up to six months before the ‘corper’ can find one. Subjecting viable and vibrant youths to redundancy for want of place of service is not healthy to our nation’s economy. It is, therefore, a matter of exigency that govt. and the N.Y.S.C. board wake up to this responsibility. The problem can be alleviated by the creation of institutions and establishment of industries where these massive youths can be posted for this purpose. Lack of this enabling atmosphere for desirable services is even dangerous and capable of destroying our youths, if lured or diverted into illicit places of works. The achievement of genuine service places would also address the case of exploitation of corps members by some of the institutions that leverage on its inefficiency to subject members to excessive labour with no near equivalent compensations.
Of course, our achievement of cultural understanding, religious tolerance and other intertribal relationships are dependable on our ability to mingle with each other in mutual respect. Initially we had a compelling order that a corps member, except in a special case, must serve in a geopolitical zone he or she is not indigenous to. Today not only that many corps members serve in their geopolitical zones, but they also openly do so in their states of nativity. It is, however, necessary as much as we want to restore the dignity of N.Y.S.C. that we go back to the kernels of its laws and policies and insist on them accordingly. The reason is that if the trend is allowed to continue, it may degenerate into only leaving it in a state of ridicule and pity.
Uche Okoro is a youth corps member serving in Ogun State
