The NYSC scheme has been in the news for two major reasons this year. First was in the conduct of the April election in which the scheme provided the platform for the use of Nigerian graduates. The results of the election gained international applause and endorsement and the scheme largely shared in the credit. An African president even said Nigeria has opened their eyes to the usefulness of corps members and promised to take a cue from us in the future. Well said. Second was the hoopla subsequently generated from the harassments and assaults on some of thecorps members in which ten of them tragically lost their lives. Many stakeholders understandably called for the scraping of the scheme but reason prevailed when many other respected Nigerians and the media especiallycanvassed for its continuity. We don’t have to cut off our nose to spit our face, they argued. However, an important issue emanated from the discourse which was the need for a review of the scheme. Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu in particular took it to the floor of the National Assembly for consideration. It is instructive that another member of the Assembly, Senator Sahabi Yau and 33 others have reopened the discussion recently. I was a prospective corps member when the issue first came up and was privileged to make contributions including writing an open letter to Mr. President on the matter. But now as a serving corps member seeing with an improved prism, I perceive important issues which the new Director General of NYSC, General Nnamdi Okorie-Affia need to critically examine. This could help advance the primary objectives of the scheme. I see the need for some adjustments in programmes and policies especially as the ones presently in place seem tantamount to abusing the intelligence and integrity of Nigerian graduates.
To be candid, it appears there are states where youth corps members are not needed. Through audible and unmistakable actions these states do not attach much importance to the scheme and do not appreciate the efforts of corps members. They probably have excess workforce. In such states, corps members are rejected at their place of primary assignments. In such places, corps members are not entitled to the usual state allowance approved by NYSC in lieu of accommodation. You will pardon me for not being specific here. NYSC need to make its findings. In such states, youth corps members only roam the streets, idle because they have been rejected in several places. They end up wasting the one year of youth service not adding values to themselves let alone to the nation. NYSC is duty-bound to enquire from states if they really need the services of corps members and what number to forestall time wastage of Nigerian youths. It is an insult on me to show up where my service is presumed to be needed only to be turned back.
Worse still, some states not finding places to post corps members circulate them among private individuals who have link with government. Those saddled with the duty of posting corps members to their place of primary assignment make fortune selling to bidders and distributing them among their circles of friends and acolytes. It is therefore not surprising to find corps members at business centres doing some odd, degrading and disgusting jobs. Is that not an abuse of our graduates and anopen scorn of their years of rigorous academic labour? The excuse of some states for putting corps members in questionable places is shortage of funds. If a state cannot accommodate corps members, is it compulsory it accepts a responsibility it cannot discharge?
The three weeks orientation programme also needs overhauling. As fascinating and educative as the camp activities are, some swindlers find their way into the camp to extort corps members albeit professionally and diplomatically. They do some motivational gymnastics laced with ideas of money making picked up from foreign books and in the end issue certificates of participation at a sum. They tell fake highfalutin stories to impress listeners, their gleaming three-piece suit testifying to their mojo. Some simpletons usually fall for this sophistry for the single reason of upgrading their CV. But I wonder how NYSC permitted such people into the camp to hoodwink impressionable minds. It’s unfortunate these speakers who parade themselves as representatives of their principals who head some nebulous consulting firms and professional institutes come talking about how to grab white collar jobs, implicitly discouraging the entrepreneurship spirit the organizers intend to inculcate into the corps members. NYSC shoots itself in the foot by planting these subversive elements with trained persuasive but delusive tongues. I should make a point clear here. It is good to listen to a motivational talk, but where the speaker has ulterior motive or is primarily motivated by despicable greed and pecuniary gains, then there is need for a check.
Some Nigerians have suggested the incorporation of some forms of defensive military training during the orientation programme. I wish to accentuate the essence of this point. In the prevailing condition of abject insecurity in the country plus Boko Haram unpredictable dastardly onslaught, such trainings come handy. When corps members are confronted with impossible situations where their lives are threatened, they can courageously switch either to the fight or flight mode. The ladies especially need training on how to fight rape, a malaise that is becomingendemic in the nation if recent media reports are anything to go by. The corps members that have been victims of rape would have fared betterif well oriented. This means the orientation curriculum is not complete at the moment.
It is also worthy of note that the uniform distributed to corps members in the camp is disgraceful and reproachful to say the least. The khaki wear is of two types. One is good and durable while the other is substandard and a single wash turns it into instant rag. The crested vest is also ticky-tacky. Youth corps members pay heavilyto procure substitutes. One wonders to whom the federal government contracts the job of producing the wears for the NYSC. The individual or company is grossly incompetent and can be dubbed a cheat that deserves to be prosecuted for short-changing Nigerians except if the government is not paying its dues which is very doubtful. Our government is notorious for preposterous spendings.
There is the most important issue of the lot. The NYSC needs to come out clear and tell the Nigerian public its policy on posting of Nigerian graduates. This year for instance, Lagos was unusually overcrowded to the point that NYSC was forced to issue an order that some graduates posted to Lagos should have their orientation programmes in certain designated states. What do we make of that? Struggle for the soul of Lagos or greed? Insinuations are also rife that private tertiary institutions in the country get preferential postings. I have no grouse against people who seek relocation after being posted to troubled states or on grounds of health, marriage and other genuine reasons (It is however laughable how corps members desperate for redeployment feign mental problems, epilepsy, et al). But I am miffed at redeployment or influencing of posts for the sake of convenience and comfort. How do you knowyour country well when all your life you’re restricted to the confine of your small state? What will be your world view, or is it national view, when in position of national leadership if your story begins and ends in one locale? While I don’t expect to attract a wide following on this sore note, I intend to drive it home to everyone that it is an issue we cannot continue to gloss over because it strikes at the heart of our corruption crisis. Surprisingly, even religious institutions are divided over the moral and spiritual implications of such practice. My questions will however be better directed to the NYSC. What is NYSC stance on the issue? Does it try to check such such partial and unethical practice? If a Nigerian graduate could decide where he wants to serve and no eye brow is raised,the liberality of choice may as well be extended to all; no discrimination. For instance, I would have rather chosen to serve in the luxurious officeof Mr. President in Aso Rock villa and not the village school where I now find myself teaching some noisy youths. I’m not complaining. It’s good to see the other side of Nigeria and appreciate the depth of our national predicament.
As recommendations, I wish to admonish that influencing of posting on untenable and intangible grounds should be halted. The NYSC should use its discretion and the guiding lights of NYSC--national integration and cohesion, cultural appreciation and cross-fertilization of ideas--to decide where corps members serve. States having internal crisis should be tactically avoided without making any fuss orattracting media attention to such decision which could heat up the polity.Their indigenes could be sent to them to prevent a distracting lacuna. The NYSC should investigate the allegations raised here and find urgent answers to the questions posed for the future of the scheme. The NYSC scheme isdoing a lot for corps members, thanks to the visionary leadership of the pastDirector General, Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga who was both a father and friend to all corps members. His travail and triumph in the critical moments of the April polls bespeak him as a colossus worth national celebration. Brigadier General Nnamdi has a great challenge ahead of him and on behalf of corps members nationwide, I pledge unalloyed support for his leadership.
Folarin Samson is a serving corps member in Ebonyi State
*08030572852/ childofdkingdom@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment