Special Correspondent Henry Oduah records the camp experiences, expectations, and hopes for the future as the first set of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members (colloquially, “corpers”) pass out of orientation for this year’s Batch A programme.
A member of the National Youth Service Corps [NYSC], hereby pledge to follow at all times the leadership of those in authority irrespective of their social and educational background and in particular shall … be prepared to serve honestly, faithfully and if need be, pay the supreme sacrifice for the fatherland ….”
Losing life for country
Corps members frown at this excerpt of the oath of allegiance of the NYSC which requires them to give up their lives, if necessary, in the service of the nation. The oath is taken at the beginning of the service year.
When taking the oath, grins appear on the faces of those deployed to the troubled states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, and Adamawa.
Nonetheless, the NYSC has rounded off all orientation programmes across the nation and the 2015 Batch A service year is now in full gear.
As has been customary in recent years, corps members were divided into two streams. Stream one arrived orientation camp on May 5 and completed it on May 25, exactly 21 days later. Stream two began camp on June 2 and ended it on June 22.
Participants are divided into two streams to enable the NYSC authorities cope with the increasing number of graduates.
Stream two floods North
The North recorded the highest number of stream two corps members probably to allow for the return of normalcy after the general election.
Still, corps members deployed to insurgency-ravaged states break limits to ensure their smooth but swift relocation to peaceful states.
Fortunately, the NYSC listens to applications for relocation on grounds of health, marriage, and insecurity.
Some corps members connive with medical practitioners to obtain fake medical reports. They show up in camp with reports of complicated illnesses they can barely pronounce.
If defaulting corps members are caught, they are made to serve beyond the one year mandatory period without pay, and the medical practitioner who issues a false report may have his licence revoked.
Purpose of the NYSC
The Yakubu Gowon administration created the NYSC scheme in May 1973 to “reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the civil war” which began in July 1967 and ended in January 1970.
The NYSC was established for “the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity,” according to the Decree, quoted on the NYSC website.
The original NYSC Decree 24 of May 22, 1973 was repealed and replaced by NYSC Decree 51 of June 16, 1993.
The website notes that Nigeria is plagued by poverty, mass illiteracy, shortage of high skilled manpower (coupled with uneven distribution of the skilled people that are available), inadequate socioeconomic infrastructural facilities, housing, water and sewage facilities, road, healthcare services, and effective communication system.
It explains that faced with these almost intractable problems, “which were further compounded by the burden of reconstruction after the civil war,” the government and people of Nigeria set fresh goals and objectives to establish Nigeria as
• A united, strong and self reliant nation.
• A great and dynamic economy.
• A land of bright and full opportunities for all citizens.
The NYSC says
• The future of any country depends on the youths. The youths of Nigeria acknowledge this fact, and have consistently laid claim to the nation’s leadership.
• While one may give credence to the saying that leaders are born, not made, one must also concede the fact that leadership in a modem society requires a certain degree of preparation and orientation before the assumption of that role.
• The universities and other institutions of higher learning are normally expected to be training ground for future leaders, except that, as we are all aware, these institutions are first and foremost committed to the advancement of learning and knowledge, training of people for good citizenship.
• Little wonder that the products of these institutions have been accused of being too elitist in their outlook, of not identifying with the plight of the common man, and of inability to appreciate the predicament of the vast majority of the people who live in the rural areas.
• To look beyond the immediate present and to think of the future leadership of the country necessitated the mobilisation of certain categories of youths through the NYSC scheme, “to give them the proper guidance and orientation” relevant to the needs of the country.
•“The purpose of the scheme is primarily to inculcate in Nigerian youths the spirit of selfless service to the community, and to emphasise the spirit of oneness and brotherhood of all Nigerians, irrespective of cultural or social background.
• “The history of our country since independence has clearly indicated the need for unity amongst all our people, and demonstrated the fact that no cultural or geographical entity can exist in isolation.”
Arguments for and against
However, 42 years on, the relevance of the NYSC has been contested especially as some corps members have died as a result of insurgency and electoral violence.
On the other hand, the scheme gains support with the introduction of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme corps members undertake during orientation.
Corps members join one skill acquisition group out of many, based on their interests and aspirations. They are trained and equipped to have an edge in a competitive labour world.
The training covers, among others, tailoring, cosmetology, agric-allied, paint-making and application, shoe making, and brick production.
Shawani Samuel, posted to Gombe State, recounted her experience after participating in the SAED at the Jigawa NYSC orientation camp.
“Personally, I am into event management but the programme exposed me to cosmetology which I now find very interesting. I can decide to start a cosmetics business even with little capital,” said Samuel, a graduate of marketing from Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.
“Sincerely, the SAED programme is the only thing I can proudly say I participated in with all my heart. The soldiers did not help matters at all. But the programme is the best thing to happen to the NYSC and corps members.”
Boko Haram in the shadows
The activities of Boko Haram insurgents led the NYSC to move the orientation camps in troubled states to neighbouring, peaceful ones.
Corps members posted to Gombe camped in Jigawa, those posted to Borno camped in Nasarawa, and those deployed to Yobe camped in Kano.
Gombe State NYSC Coordinator, James Olugbode, explained to Batch A members deployed to the state that “the wise decision by the NYSC management to relocate some states to hold this important exercise outside their state of domicile is necessitated by the current security challenge that has bedeviled some states (Gombe inclusive).
“This situation, we believe, shall soon be a thing of the past.”
At the Jigawa camp, Victor Nwosu, who studied computer engineering at Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), said he had no intention of serving in Gombe because of attacks from the terrorists.
“Why would I be excited to go to Gombe when I know that Boko Haram insurgency is there? I cannot try it. I have made plans to redeploy to a peaceful state based on insecurity,” he disclosed.
Curiosity about the North
But despite the fact that a large number of corps members applied for relocation, Gombe still welcomed over 1,000 from Batch A, about half the original figure posted to the state.
Some chose to serve in Gombe out of curiosity about life in the North East, others decided at the last minute to answer the national call after persuasion from colleagues, religious organisations, and NYSC officials.
For Hammed Olalere, who graduated from Lagos State University (LASU), his worries about serving in Gombe grew initially but were calmed during the orientation programme.
His words: “When I first saw the call up letter online, I was worried. I was really worried because I was hoping for a South South or South East state.
“But when I came down to Jigawa, my understanding of the North changed, especially because of the words of encouragement from my platoon officer and other NYSC officials and even from my colleagues.”
Life after NYSC allowances
Many agree that the NYSC service year helps young graduates grow gradually into the intricacies of the labour market.
Corps members get allowances from the government, federal and state, from employers in their places of primary assignment, free accommodation, other benefits, as well as respect and acceptance from the public.
A corps member collects N19,800 monthly from the NYSC and may get an additional N5,000 from a state government if posted to a state establishment for primary assignment.
These benefits leave corps members counting their blessings but not without fear of uncertainty over what the future holds.
Some dread what lies ahead when the allowances cease, some devise plans for self reliance.
Others are indifferent. But Franklin Unorji, a graduate of mechanical engineering from Anambra State University, did not hide his fears.
“Graduating from the university is everybody’s dream but it puts great responsibilities on your shoulders, especially for a man. For example, there are lots of people counting on my success and I’m worried about it. But I hope to repay their faith in me,” he said.
Olalere was upbeat: “I am very optimistic about the future because I am a resourceful person. I have a clear picture of what I want to do.
“Anyway, the source of my confidence is my creative ability and resourcefulness. If I had a father who owned a company, I would depend on him. But since it is not the case, I have to play my cards well.”
Yet, he confessed his own fears, too: “It is normal to be scared of the future as a human being. I must confess that I am a little bit scared though.”
Entrepreneurship the key
As advocated by the SAED, entrepreneurship is the escape route for life after the NYSC.
This is the position of Chioma Obi, a chemistry graduate from Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo State. She said graduates should develop skills for a secure life if jobs are not available.
During the election campaign, President Muhammadu Buhari promised to pay a stipend to NYSC participants for one year after their service, probably to aid their entrepreneurial aspirations.
The relevance of the stipend is debatable especially among affected young graduates. Then, the actualisation of the promise is a story for another day.
Gbenga Awelogun, a mass communication graduate from Ekiti State University, would rather have stipends channelled to job creation.
“It is better to use the money to provide job opportunities because if you pay people for doing nothing, they would not value it. But when you work for it, you would use it wisely.
“The stipend would make people lazy and less thoughtful of ways to better the economy,” he said.
But Hahika Shalkwor, who studied library science at Plateau State Polytechnic, supported the idea of stipend: “One thing peculiar to our politicians is to promise and forget. If he [Buhari] keeps his promise, it would benefit all of us.
“It would help not only young graduates but also the economy of our country.”
To earn the certificate of national service, corps members have to participate in the four cardinal programmes of the NYSC – orientation course, primary assignment, community development service, and winding up/passing out parade.
By law, a graduate who does not get exemption from the NYSC must present his NYSC certificate to get a job.