By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Reactions continue to trail moves by the House of Representatives to scrap the National Youth Service Corps scheme established by the military administration of General Yakubu Gowon (rtd).
Gowon introduced the scheme after the civil war for graduates of Nigerian universities and those that studied abroad to foster unity among Nigerians and in furtherance to the post-war principles of reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation. NYSC was particularly aimed at encouraging the youths to interact with and see the good sides of other parts of the country outside their geographical regions of birth. Many incentives were offered the youths in observing the programme aside the statutory one year allowance to participants. There was, for instance, provision for monetary assistance to serving members who got married from outside their geographical zones in course of the scheme.
However, of late, people have asked for the scrapping of the scheme for various reasons, chiefly the rising spate of insecurity in the country.
The House of Representatives subsequently commenced debate on the bill seeking to scrap the scheme. The bill has scaled through second reading.
However, Nigerians have been reacting to the development. Some of the reactions via twitter are from Senator Shehu Sani @ Shehu Sani who in his twitter handle, wrote: “The NYSC should not be scrapped. It’s 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.
Replying to @ Shehu Sani, Dr _Salis I.T @salis I.T wrote; “NYSC is Just an avenue for Southerners to get job in the North. They proliferate our region, take our jobs and hate us. If you cannot scrap it then let Southerners do their NYSC in the south and Northerners in the north.
Also replying to @shehu Sani, Augustine Chijioke Awurum @Au wrote; “It shouldn’t be scrapped. NYSC afforded me the opportunity of going to the Northern Nigeria for the first time. Serving in Sokoto state was a blessing to me; as through it, I gained so many things I won’t reveal here. North was a real adventure and good place.
Obinna Nwosu @obi_nwosu wrote in his twitter
“NYSC is an exposure that gives youths from the North an opportunity to see things from the perspective of those in the South, and vice versa. If the House of Representatives pushes for an end to NYSC, it may affect national unity on the long run. My NYSC experience”.
