The widespread condemnation and criticisms that greeted the killing of 10 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by irate youths protesting the outcome of the April 11 presidential election in Bauchi state is a litmus test for the fragile unity of Nigeria. Caught in the web of these reactions, positive and negative agitation is the 38 years old scheme. While some call for its scrapping others say it should adopt geo-political postings arrangement to forestall such aggressions. Another orientation programme is fast approaching, Oyeniran Apata had a chat with Ladipo Olaniyan, NYSC Lagos state Coordinator on a number of issues. Excerpts:
Batch ‘B’ serving corps members are expected to pass out very soon. There are insinuations by corps members of possible extension. How true is this news?
There is no truth in that. Their passing out can never be postponed. What is the reason or reasons that could warrant postponement? People just concoct stories and spread them around. Some people just sit down and come up with stories that are unfounded. In fact, I have received calls from corps members making enquiries about their passing out date and other information. Until we get a confirmation of the day and then pass it down to the corps members.
What is your assessment of the out-going service year in Lagos considering the unfortunate incidences in some parts of the country?
We thank God. Lagos did not experience the type of crisis that happened in Bauchi. Glory be to God. Our corps members in Lagos were able to give a good account of themselves in their involvement in the just concluded elections. Talking about their effectiveness in their places of primary assignments, some of them really performed well in community development. They have performed well generally. Just before you came in, one of the corps members who is a graphic artist informed me of an exhibition he planned to stage. This is a success story. We also have a corps member who embarked on a Community Development project of building a primary school somewhere in Ikorodu. He has asked for a date for commissioning. These and many more are some of the stories I have been receiving. It gladdens my heart that our corps members are doing well in Lagos.
It was observed at the commencement of orientation programme for batch ‘B’ that some female corps members came to the camp pregnant; some of them at advanced stage. How many births have you recorded in the out going service period?
Honestly, I cannot tell you the number. They were many. This is the second time in one week this same question came up. Whenever they come and we find out that they are pregnant, normally we give them time to go and deliver if the pregnancy is at advanced stage. Usually what we observed is that after some time we see them at the secretariat cuddling a baby. It is then it will dawn on us that they have given birth. None of them has ever invited me to come and eat rice.
Safety of Pregnant corps members is an issue you have shown much concern about. Where does the NYSC stand on this issue?
I am not a proponent of NYSC reverting to the old order as it concerns corps members and pregnancy. I cannot do anything against the official policy of NYSC. We got to the stage we are now having gone through a lot of issues and developments. You are a witness to the hues and cries of the way NYSC handled the matter. NYSC received a lot of criticisms alleging that NYSC was forcing women to do pregnancy tests. A lot of developments came up from this issue. Eventually, the higher authorities said we should allow them to come if they want to be part of orientation with an undertaken that should anything happen they are on their own.
Quite unfortunately, we still experience the negative side of having pregnant and nursing mothers as corps members on camp. That is the area I am emphasising that they know fully that their pregnancy could threatened by coming for the orientation programme. For the nursing mothers, it will not be convenient to keep innocent babies on camp.
The NYSC orientation camp at Iyana Ipaja has been adjudged by corps members and officials as inadequate. Overtime the situation often leads to posting of Lagos members for orientation in other states. What is the situation now?
Frankly speaking, the camp we are using presently has become inadequate in terms of spaces, accommodation, and convenience to adequately cater for the large number of corps members sent to Lagos every year. The camp is also not large enough for NYSC gadgets. We are looking forward to government to assist by upgrading what is on ground at Igando. It was later realised that Igando may not even come to pass because it is no longer conducive for an orientation camp. The area has been overtaken by development. However, a new location has been identified for NYSC in Lagos between Ikorodu and Epe local government council areas. I was a member of the team that went to scout for a befitting place. We arrived at the particular locality and a proposal has been sent to the governor to approve the release of the area for NYSC.
The relocation will obviously gladden the heart of neighbours who have been clamouring for a relocation of the NYSC from Iyana-Ipaja. ..
I am not aware of the clamour. But if they do clamour, it is to our advantage. Even we in NYSC are saying it loud that the place is inadequate. The earlier the relocation is effected the better.
NYSC is an arm of the Federal Government whose operations and mandate generated a lot of criticisms following the death of some corps members in the North. Some suggested that members should not be posted to here and there. It was even in the media that Bauchi has been singled out for non-posting. What is the update?
Quite frankly, I know that at the annual management conference of NYSC, it was made known that corps members would not be posted to any crisis spots precisely Bauchi State this time around. But this does not mean that corps member will not be posted to the state at all. For instance, if we have a prospective corps member whose husband is working in Bauchi State, NYSC will definitely post corps members who by marriage have their spouses in Bauchi. However, the number that will ordinarily be posted to the state will be minimal.
With this development and clamour by some segments of the country against cross political zone posting, does this not give parents option of selection?
It is not for any parent to dictate to NYSC or make selective posting.
What happens in a scenario where an apprehensive parent stands his grounds?
Leave that to NYSC. NYSC knows what to do. We are human beings and have feelings too.
What will NYSC do?
I am not in a position to tell you that. But I have told you that no corps member will be posted to any crises flashpoints or areas that are not safe.
And if a parent perseveres?
Parents cannot dictate to NYSC and say this is where I want my child to observe the national service. But as an organisation, the NYSC will device a means of coming out with postings that will not put any parent or corps members under any undue anxiety about their safety.
How would you assess the scheme generally in view of divergent suggestions for scrapping, review and sustainability?
People forget that what happened was not caused by NYSC or the involvement of the youth corps members. Where lay the fault of NYSC? I am surprised at the clamour for scrapping of NYSC. And to me, the NYSC scheme is about social engineering of this country through the youth corps members. Therefore the realisation of its objectives cannot be time-bound. Those calling for the scrapping of the NYSC can be classified into four categories; those that are ignorant of its objectives, those that passed through the scheme but the scheme did not pass through them. We call this category “Otondo coppers”, those that committed one offence or the other while serving and were sanctioned and those that are evading national service and believe that by scrapping the scheme, they would have had their way.
The affirmation by some Kaduna corps members in a television interview after the unfortunate killing in Bauchi that they would not be deterred to accomplish the election duty they started coupled with some other short messages sent to me by Lagos coppers that the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) be cautioned against replacing them with non-corps members as ad-hoc staff in the governorship election was a rare demonstration of patriotism and confirms the young men are a new breed generation of Nigerians. This is a plus to the NYSC scheme.
Did Lagos record any casualty?
None to my knowledge! Even if some did not come for one reason or the other, the number will be insignificant. We paid their allowances. From available record, we are able to know that they came out in large numbers. When such a thing happens, it is expected that about 50 to 70 pr cent will withdraw from the exercise. That was not the case. The same thing cannot be said of a place like Bauchi because some state governors evacuated their indigenes from troubled areas in the North.
In the heat of the crisis some state governors were alleged to have threatened not to return their rescued indigenes to their base in the North. How do you react?
They cannot say that. That is not for state governors to decide. The idea of bringing them from the area is good. They cannot arrogate an assignment that does not fall within the purview of their offices to themselves. The NYSC is not forcing anybody to go back right now. We have sent bulk messages to them that anyone who does not want to go back should simply apply for redeployment. The normal process for any corps member withdrawn from a crisis zone is to register first and wait for briefs on the next line of action. Decision of the annual management conference is that corps members who want to leave Bauchi should apply and NYSC will look for another state and post accordingly. The proviso is that they cannot dictate or be selective.
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