Monday 29 August 2011
NYSC Scheme And National Unity
NYSC Scheme And National Unity
Mon, 29/08/2011 - 10:36pm
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme was established to ensure national consciousness, youth leadership skills for nation building, meaningful interactions and enduring relationships as well as national integration and unity among the various ethnic groups in Nigeria
Although the programme, arguably, has not failed to achieve over the decades, nonetheless, these are definitely not the best of times for the current management and staff of the 38-year-old NYSC, introduced by the Gen. Yakubu Gowon military administration in the aftermath of the unfortunate civil war that raged between 1966 and 1970.
The current pressure on the scheme is informed by the increasing insecurity of lives of its corps members due to killings, bomb attacks and kidnappings in certain volatile states in parts of the conutry, including Borno, Jigawa, Taraba, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and Bauchi to which graduate youths are being posted to participate in the one-year mandatory national service.
There have been discordant calls on the appropriate authorities and prominent stakeholders, to either phase out or restructure the programme, vis-a- vis the guidelines for posting, welfare package, issues of security of lives as well as the deployment of corps members to places of primary assignment after mobilisation at the orientation camps, among others.
Granted, that the federal government consequently has set up an investigative panel on the post-election violence, headed by Sheikh Ahmed Lemu to probe series of violent attacks that dotted the landscape at the time, and make recommendations for possible implementation, conflicting pronouncements, emanating from the leadership of NYSC at its national headquarters in Abuja, over guidelines on redeployment of corps members to preferred states are not helping matters in respect of re-assuring them and their parents or guardians that the nation has their interest at heart.
An earlier memo from the office of the NYSC director-general, Brig.-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga, “In the light of the security uncertainty in Bauchi State, the NYSC management has considered it fit to waive all due process to expedite action on relocation” Yet, on realising that scores of serving and prospective corps members have kept seeking re-deployment to other states, the NYSC again, made a U-turn on the previous directive, saying it appeared to have encouraged corps members from all states of the federation, including the FCT, to besiege the national headquarters seeking relocation “for the flimsiest of reasons”
The director-general thus, ostensibly stated in another memo: “All prospective corps members must proceed to their respective camps immediately. Relocation matters will be handled through the established procedure from their states of deployment:’
While one readily agrees with the leadership of the NYSC, that allowing corps members to serve in their states of origin will be against the NYSC code, the officials still need to realise the fact that they may be wrong in describing reasons advanced by concerned corps members seeking re-deployment as “flimsiest”.
Human lives are precious, and once lost, they are simply irreplaceable! Perhaps we all need to ask ourselves this pointed question: Which rational parent or guardian will carelessly allow their sons or daughters in whom they have invested so much from birth, sheepishly march into the den by faceless terrorists to snuff life out of them in seconds while serving Nigeria outside their states of origin?
To further impress it on the government that things are really falling apart with the scheme of recent, at least security-wise, the apparent lack of confidence in the capability of the state security apparatus has compelled the authorities of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), in Bomo State, following alleged threat letters from the Boko Haram sect, to shut down the institution indefinitely, while many non-natives are leaving the troubled state in droves for dear lives.
Government, therefore, needs to take urgent proactive measures to resolve the Boko Haram wahala before it gets out of the hand. Most politicians with inordinate ambitions seeking political power at all costs for their selfish ends but masquerading as patriotic leaders must be told bluntly to stop their age-long hide-and-seek disruptive tendencies and outright hypocrisy in the form of inciting statements and disposition which surreptitiously fuel trouble across the land.
The NYSC national headquarters, for now, should give express approval to requests of many corps members seeking re-posting to other states considered “safe”. These officials should stop playing chess with the lives of the nation’s youth. Continuing doing this will only encourage the generality of Nigerians to lose interest in the NYSC scheme completely.
O.Kayode is CEO, Wordkraft Communications Limited Lagos
Sunday 28 August 2011
NYSC evacuees redeployed to South-West states
NYSC evacuees redeployed to South-West states
By Leke Baiyewu
Sunday, 28 Aug 2011
Forty-six members of the National Youth Service Corps from Ogun State that were evacuated from Bauchi State following the post-election violence have been redeployed to some South-West states.
The state NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Olayide Adeniran, told SUNDAY PUNCH that 46 of the affected NYSC members who received their letters of redeployment last week were reposted to various places of their primary assignment.
He said, “The national directorate of the NYSC has been on top of the situation since the occurrence. The corps members had a delay in their redeployment process due to misinformation.”
The Ogun State government, just like other southern states, had ordered the evacuation of its indigenes from Bauchi State, shortly after the April general elections, following a post-election crisis that left 10 corps members dead and several others injured.
No fewer than 150 corps members were brought into Abeokuta, the state capital, on April 25, 2011.
The then Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Olukoya Adeleke-Adedoyin, however, said about 400 corps members were reportedly trapped in Bauchi and that some of them had found their way home, leaving 150 others for the state to rescue.
One of the evacuees, who pleaded anonymity, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the 46 redeployed corps members were those in Batch ‘A’ only and that those in the Batch ‘C’were excluded.
By Leke Baiyewu
Sunday, 28 Aug 2011
Forty-six members of the National Youth Service Corps from Ogun State that were evacuated from Bauchi State following the post-election violence have been redeployed to some South-West states.
The state NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Olayide Adeniran, told SUNDAY PUNCH that 46 of the affected NYSC members who received their letters of redeployment last week were reposted to various places of their primary assignment.
He said, “The national directorate of the NYSC has been on top of the situation since the occurrence. The corps members had a delay in their redeployment process due to misinformation.”
The Ogun State government, just like other southern states, had ordered the evacuation of its indigenes from Bauchi State, shortly after the April general elections, following a post-election crisis that left 10 corps members dead and several others injured.
No fewer than 150 corps members were brought into Abeokuta, the state capital, on April 25, 2011.
The then Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Olukoya Adeleke-Adedoyin, however, said about 400 corps members were reportedly trapped in Bauchi and that some of them had found their way home, leaving 150 others for the state to rescue.
One of the evacuees, who pleaded anonymity, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the 46 redeployed corps members were those in Batch ‘A’ only and that those in the Batch ‘C’were excluded.
Corp Member May Be Among Dead Terror Suspects
Nigeria: Corp Member May Be Among Dead Terror Suspects
Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar
28 August 2011
A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) may be among the terror suspects killed by the army in Adamawa State during Thursday's deadly attack on the central town of Gombi, sources told Sunday Trust yesterday.
A gang of about 30 gunmen raided Gombi town in broad daylight on Thursday, attacking police stations and banks and killing both security personnel and civilians.
About 18 persons, including at least six policemen and three suspected gunmen, were killed during the incident, which the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen O. A. Ihejirika, described as a terrorist attack.
Sources told Sunday Trust in Yola that one of the suspected gunmen killed by the army during the encounter was a serving member of the NYSC who was posted to Gombi to teach at a day secondary school.
Sources claimed that he was seen among the gunmen while they were operating in the centre of the town before an army reinforcement sent from Yola gunned him down.
Sources in Gombi claimed that an NYSC identity card was found in his pocket and that he had even participated in the weekly Community Development (CD) assignment earlier in the morning before the afternoon deadly attack.
Sources at the NYSC office in Yola said officials were making efforts to liaise with the army to recover his corpse but that the army had asked them to write formally requesting for the body.
No NYSC official was willing to speak about the matter on record because on were still uncertainties surrounding the issue.
One source told Sunday Trust that when the chief of army staff came to Yola on Friday, some NYSC officials tried to meet him along with the Brigade Commander in Yola to seek the release of the body; but that they were told to make a formal request in writing.
The army spokesman in Yola, Lt. Olukoya Victor, said he could neither confirm nor deny the story because he had not yet been briefed on the identities of the dead suspects or on a request for the release of any of the bodies.
"Honestly, I am yet to be notified of the full identities of the killed suspects. I know that full identification had been ordered, but I haven't been briefed yet," he told Sunday Trust yesterday.
The army had killed two of the suspects while the police had killed one--all of whose bodies were displayed to journalists on Friday.
State police commissioner Adenlere Shinaba, had then told a news conference that police had recovered only two mobile phones, one Motorola walkie-talkie, one camcorder and N5,000 from the dead suspect.
Police spokesperson, Altine Daniel told Sunday Trust yesterday that the suspect killed by the police was not a corps member. She said considering both his features and looks, he could not be a serving corps member.
During his visit to Yola at the weekend, the chief of army staff described both the Gombi raid and the bomb attack on the United Nations' offices in Abuja as terrorist acts.
He said the army would play its role actively in bringing to an end such kind of acts in Nigeria.
Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar
28 August 2011
A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) may be among the terror suspects killed by the army in Adamawa State during Thursday's deadly attack on the central town of Gombi, sources told Sunday Trust yesterday.
A gang of about 30 gunmen raided Gombi town in broad daylight on Thursday, attacking police stations and banks and killing both security personnel and civilians.
About 18 persons, including at least six policemen and three suspected gunmen, were killed during the incident, which the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen O. A. Ihejirika, described as a terrorist attack.
Sources told Sunday Trust in Yola that one of the suspected gunmen killed by the army during the encounter was a serving member of the NYSC who was posted to Gombi to teach at a day secondary school.
Sources claimed that he was seen among the gunmen while they were operating in the centre of the town before an army reinforcement sent from Yola gunned him down.
Sources in Gombi claimed that an NYSC identity card was found in his pocket and that he had even participated in the weekly Community Development (CD) assignment earlier in the morning before the afternoon deadly attack.
Sources at the NYSC office in Yola said officials were making efforts to liaise with the army to recover his corpse but that the army had asked them to write formally requesting for the body.
No NYSC official was willing to speak about the matter on record because on were still uncertainties surrounding the issue.
One source told Sunday Trust that when the chief of army staff came to Yola on Friday, some NYSC officials tried to meet him along with the Brigade Commander in Yola to seek the release of the body; but that they were told to make a formal request in writing.
The army spokesman in Yola, Lt. Olukoya Victor, said he could neither confirm nor deny the story because he had not yet been briefed on the identities of the dead suspects or on a request for the release of any of the bodies.
"Honestly, I am yet to be notified of the full identities of the killed suspects. I know that full identification had been ordered, but I haven't been briefed yet," he told Sunday Trust yesterday.
The army had killed two of the suspects while the police had killed one--all of whose bodies were displayed to journalists on Friday.
State police commissioner Adenlere Shinaba, had then told a news conference that police had recovered only two mobile phones, one Motorola walkie-talkie, one camcorder and N5,000 from the dead suspect.
Police spokesperson, Altine Daniel told Sunday Trust yesterday that the suspect killed by the police was not a corps member. She said considering both his features and looks, he could not be a serving corps member.
During his visit to Yola at the weekend, the chief of army staff described both the Gombi raid and the bomb attack on the United Nations' offices in Abuja as terrorist acts.
He said the army would play its role actively in bringing to an end such kind of acts in Nigeria.
Saturday 27 August 2011
In defence of Tsiga
Nigeria: In Defense of Tsiga
Tijjani
27 August 2011
Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga had been in the eye of the storm following unpleasant experiences in recent past. Despite the good record the man had set for himself through the years, some public commentators chose to turn a blind eye and instead pretend as if nothing good had come out of his tenure as the Director General of NYSC. Two of such challenges in reference include kidnapping of corps members and post-election crisis.
Kidnapping of corps members was one test that really hit the whole management of the scheme for it has never happened before. Though Gen. Tsiga stood on his feet to make sure that those corps members were released unharmed, little was mentioned of his effort even when that was successfully attained.
Also the post - election violence that led to the killing of corps members was one challenge that almost threw the NYSC scheme off balance. Needless to say, the whole nation was saddened. Though not in any way his undoing, rather that of the security that Tsiga trusted to do their part, the blame was heaped on him with hundreds calling for his head. Those who castigated him at that time should know that the security of everybody lies with the state and all other relevant security agencies. He has no power over the security operations of any state where these corps members are posted and can only work in tandem with those saddled with the responsibility which he does prior to every posting. Moreover, he has demonstrated tremendous concern for their welfare. It is for this reason that he availed corps members with his direct phone lines so that good communication can be maintained between them in order to know what is happening to them at all times.
The NYSC was established on 22nd May 1973 (thirty seven years ago). It cannot claim to be the only government parastatal that has been able to remain relevant since inception, but thankfully, it is not one of those that have become moribund. Therefore, the leadership of Marahazu Ismaila Tsiga, as enunciated above, has helped to ensure that the NYSC has remained focused on its mandate despite the challenges. Achievements of the NYSC since the coming of the present DG can be clarified from a five point policy directive:
Also commendable is Gen.Tsiga's resuscitation of regular visits to all states and revival of regular management meetings to put heads together. In his time, the issue of honouraria to staff was moved to another level thereby boosting the moral of NYSC Staff most especially during orientation exercises. Tsiga made possible the implementation of new allowance to corps members. He has distinguished himself in the Nigerian Army. He is a proud recipient of the FSS, MSS, DSS awards of the Army. Like majority of his predecessors who had three years of tenure, it is most likely that this soldier gentleman can still deliver great services to the Nigerian nation through the ambits of the NYSC.
Lastly, his tenure will be remembered by those sincere enough to admit, for a lot of transformation both on corps members and staff welfare.
Tijjani wrote from Borgu Local Government, Niger State
Wednesday 24 August 2011
NYSC state coordinator urges youth corps members to access loan scheme
NYSC state coordinator urges youth corps members to access loan scheme
August 24, 2011
The state coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps in Enugu State, Joshua Olowookere, has urged corps members to access the ₦500 million entrepreneurship development fund during their service year.
Mr Olowookere told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Tuesday that the fund, set up by the federal government, was to aid corps members start projects that would enhance their lives after service.
According to him, the basic requirement from any serving corps member is a feasibility study of what they intend to do and how they intend to do it.
He added that even if a corps member intended to relocate to his or her village to realise the project, the NYSC could approve of it and empower him or her to do the job while serving.
"This is the time corps members can think of what they can do on their own. The country's Vision 20:2020 programme has to start from the scratch.
"Part of my advice to them during camp orientation was to disorientate them from the white collar job idea and engage them in practical ways of achieving things in life," Mr Olowookere said.
He urged serving corps members to grab the opportunity provided by the federal government to earn a living after service.
August 24, 2011
The state coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps in Enugu State, Joshua Olowookere, has urged corps members to access the ₦500 million entrepreneurship development fund during their service year.
Mr Olowookere told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Tuesday that the fund, set up by the federal government, was to aid corps members start projects that would enhance their lives after service.
According to him, the basic requirement from any serving corps member is a feasibility study of what they intend to do and how they intend to do it.
He added that even if a corps member intended to relocate to his or her village to realise the project, the NYSC could approve of it and empower him or her to do the job while serving.
"This is the time corps members can think of what they can do on their own. The country's Vision 20:2020 programme has to start from the scratch.
"Part of my advice to them during camp orientation was to disorientate them from the white collar job idea and engage them in practical ways of achieving things in life," Mr Olowookere said.
He urged serving corps members to grab the opportunity provided by the federal government to earn a living after service.
Tuesday 23 August 2011
The future of NYSC
The future of NYSC
on AUGUST 23, 2011
THE three weeks I spent in the NYSC Orientation camp in Argungu, Kebbi State in 2002 were some of the best weeks of my life. A Lagos ‘boy’ who schooled in Delta, I used to think that the sun rose and set in the South. So you can understand my surprise at the wonderful things and people I discovered during the NYSC orientation and later as a year-long resident of Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi.
It was my first practical training on the plurality, vastness and beauty of this country; and it provided me too with the opportunity to shed some of the rather dangerous stereotypes I had acquired over the years.
But none of it would have happened if I hadn’t been part of the NYSC scheme. Chances are that my worldview would have still remained limited and some of the great friendships of my life wouldn’t have happened. So whenever the NYSC issue comes up, I am always emotional about it. And lately there have been no shortages of conversations about what to do with the NYSC, to make it deliver on its original mandate, and much more.
These debates were triggered off by the killing of nine youth corps members in Bauchi and Kaduna states during the post-election violence that erupted in parts of the country. The fact that youth corps members had played a vital role in the success of the 2011 general elections which were adjudged to be the fairest since the return of democracy in 1999 did not in any way shield them from attacks.
The death of the corps members naturally caused furore and drove home the urgency for reforming the NIYSC. But like most Nigerian debates, everyone has an opinion on what the best strategies should be and what should constitute the key ingredients of the reforms. From the heated conversation, however, one could glean some common concerns.
These include: How successful has the scheme been in delivering on its primary mandate of serving as a platform for national integration?
More than 40 years after the civil war that led to its institution and 38 years after its setting up, is the scheme still relevant? Does the scheme serve any practical purpose in preparing the corps members to face modern day challenges like unemployment? Is it possible to refocus the scheme on current national challenges, while still delivering on its original mandate?
As the debate was raging, a fresh batch of university and polytechnic graduates were being called up by the NYSC, just as the new administration was taking shape with the appointment of ministers. It thus seemed as if the questions raised in the debate were being directly posed to the new Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in whose portfolio the scheme falls. Incidentally, he assumed duty at the Ministry when the newly deployed corps members were just about rounding off their one-month orientation exercise. In keeping with President Goodluck Jonathan’s charge to hit the ground running, the Minister hit the road to visit some camps to see things for himself and personally give his gospel of transformation to the corps members. The Minister visited the camps in Nasarawa State and Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Mallam Adullahi was not oblivious of the discussions going on about the NYSC. In fact, just before the trip to the orientation camps, the Minister had attended the first meeting of a brain trust, made up of top experts and professionals on youth development, which he set up to help him deliver on his mandate. Mallam believes that one person or institution cannot claim to have all the answers and that these days there are more answers out of government than in it. At the meeting, the issue of the NYSC came up again and again, and while there was no consensus on one grand approach, it was generally agreed that the scheme is in need of reforms.
It was this gospel of reforms the minister took to the NYSC camps. In Lafia, he told the corps members that refocusing of the scheme will go more than just ensuring the security of corps members. “Security is a very important issue but the kind of reforms we plan must be able to bring huge returns on the investment, not only to the participating youth corps members but also to Nigeria as a country,” he stated. The thinking of the Minister was that while security is the current concern driving the call for the restructuring of the NYSC, any reform of the scheme will need to go deeper than just ensuring the safety of corps members if it is to provide quality returns on the huge funds invested in it yearly. The Minister hinted on the direction the planned reform would go when he stated that “we think that national integration is no longer enough justification for the NYSC. We have to also start to think of the role that the scheme can play in the President’s agenda for national transformation”.
The NYSC was founded about 38 years ago after a bloody civil war had left the country polarised. General Yakubu Gowon, the then Head-of-State, initiated the scheme as one of the strategies to achieve national reconciliation and heal the wounds of the war. Over the years, the NYSC has fulfilled this vision by producing broad-minded Nigerians who have become more knowledgeable about their country and familiar with other cultures and people, apart from their own. This role has no doubt deepened integration and in spite of our contentious politics, produced Nigerian citizens with a pan-Nigerian outlook.
Gen. Gowon deserves kudos for making national integration one of the key goals of the NYSC, but the challenges facing the country, especially the youth today are deeper and more complex than integrating the different segments of our society. The number one concern of young Nigerians today is lack of jobs. Among graduates, this is usually the result of low capacity, or not having the right kind of training that the market requires. It has got so bad that if a reputable company or government agency should advertise 10 vacancies, tens of thousands of applicants are likely to turn up. No nation can make real progress when its most important resource, its youthful population, is out of work.
Resolving this low capacity puzzle will take a multi-sectoral approach, with the Ministry of Education playing the lead role. It may require reviewing our current curriculum to prioritize training that will produce job creators rather than job seekers. But that is the world as it should be. What can we do now? What role can the NYSC play to help close the skill gap and prepare our young graduates for a life of productivity and employment? Should it be used as a finishing school where graduates in camp are provided additional training to adequately prepare them for life after service?
These are some of the questions that come up in the debate about what to do with the NYSC. Whatever shape the reforms will take, one thing is sure and that is the coming makeover of the scheme will be deep-rooted and will ensure that Nigerians and Nigeria get real value for the huge investment in it.
Julius Ogunro is Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Youth Development
on AUGUST 23, 2011
THE three weeks I spent in the NYSC Orientation camp in Argungu, Kebbi State in 2002 were some of the best weeks of my life. A Lagos ‘boy’ who schooled in Delta, I used to think that the sun rose and set in the South. So you can understand my surprise at the wonderful things and people I discovered during the NYSC orientation and later as a year-long resident of Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi.
It was my first practical training on the plurality, vastness and beauty of this country; and it provided me too with the opportunity to shed some of the rather dangerous stereotypes I had acquired over the years.
But none of it would have happened if I hadn’t been part of the NYSC scheme. Chances are that my worldview would have still remained limited and some of the great friendships of my life wouldn’t have happened. So whenever the NYSC issue comes up, I am always emotional about it. And lately there have been no shortages of conversations about what to do with the NYSC, to make it deliver on its original mandate, and much more.
These debates were triggered off by the killing of nine youth corps members in Bauchi and Kaduna states during the post-election violence that erupted in parts of the country. The fact that youth corps members had played a vital role in the success of the 2011 general elections which were adjudged to be the fairest since the return of democracy in 1999 did not in any way shield them from attacks.
The death of the corps members naturally caused furore and drove home the urgency for reforming the NIYSC. But like most Nigerian debates, everyone has an opinion on what the best strategies should be and what should constitute the key ingredients of the reforms. From the heated conversation, however, one could glean some common concerns.
These include: How successful has the scheme been in delivering on its primary mandate of serving as a platform for national integration?
More than 40 years after the civil war that led to its institution and 38 years after its setting up, is the scheme still relevant? Does the scheme serve any practical purpose in preparing the corps members to face modern day challenges like unemployment? Is it possible to refocus the scheme on current national challenges, while still delivering on its original mandate?
As the debate was raging, a fresh batch of university and polytechnic graduates were being called up by the NYSC, just as the new administration was taking shape with the appointment of ministers. It thus seemed as if the questions raised in the debate were being directly posed to the new Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in whose portfolio the scheme falls. Incidentally, he assumed duty at the Ministry when the newly deployed corps members were just about rounding off their one-month orientation exercise. In keeping with President Goodluck Jonathan’s charge to hit the ground running, the Minister hit the road to visit some camps to see things for himself and personally give his gospel of transformation to the corps members. The Minister visited the camps in Nasarawa State and Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Mallam Adullahi was not oblivious of the discussions going on about the NYSC. In fact, just before the trip to the orientation camps, the Minister had attended the first meeting of a brain trust, made up of top experts and professionals on youth development, which he set up to help him deliver on his mandate. Mallam believes that one person or institution cannot claim to have all the answers and that these days there are more answers out of government than in it. At the meeting, the issue of the NYSC came up again and again, and while there was no consensus on one grand approach, it was generally agreed that the scheme is in need of reforms.
It was this gospel of reforms the minister took to the NYSC camps. In Lafia, he told the corps members that refocusing of the scheme will go more than just ensuring the security of corps members. “Security is a very important issue but the kind of reforms we plan must be able to bring huge returns on the investment, not only to the participating youth corps members but also to Nigeria as a country,” he stated. The thinking of the Minister was that while security is the current concern driving the call for the restructuring of the NYSC, any reform of the scheme will need to go deeper than just ensuring the safety of corps members if it is to provide quality returns on the huge funds invested in it yearly. The Minister hinted on the direction the planned reform would go when he stated that “we think that national integration is no longer enough justification for the NYSC. We have to also start to think of the role that the scheme can play in the President’s agenda for national transformation”.
The NYSC was founded about 38 years ago after a bloody civil war had left the country polarised. General Yakubu Gowon, the then Head-of-State, initiated the scheme as one of the strategies to achieve national reconciliation and heal the wounds of the war. Over the years, the NYSC has fulfilled this vision by producing broad-minded Nigerians who have become more knowledgeable about their country and familiar with other cultures and people, apart from their own. This role has no doubt deepened integration and in spite of our contentious politics, produced Nigerian citizens with a pan-Nigerian outlook.
Gen. Gowon deserves kudos for making national integration one of the key goals of the NYSC, but the challenges facing the country, especially the youth today are deeper and more complex than integrating the different segments of our society. The number one concern of young Nigerians today is lack of jobs. Among graduates, this is usually the result of low capacity, or not having the right kind of training that the market requires. It has got so bad that if a reputable company or government agency should advertise 10 vacancies, tens of thousands of applicants are likely to turn up. No nation can make real progress when its most important resource, its youthful population, is out of work.
Resolving this low capacity puzzle will take a multi-sectoral approach, with the Ministry of Education playing the lead role. It may require reviewing our current curriculum to prioritize training that will produce job creators rather than job seekers. But that is the world as it should be. What can we do now? What role can the NYSC play to help close the skill gap and prepare our young graduates for a life of productivity and employment? Should it be used as a finishing school where graduates in camp are provided additional training to adequately prepare them for life after service?
These are some of the questions that come up in the debate about what to do with the NYSC. Whatever shape the reforms will take, one thing is sure and that is the coming makeover of the scheme will be deep-rooted and will ensure that Nigerians and Nigeria get real value for the huge investment in it.
Julius Ogunro is Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Youth Development
Monday 8 August 2011
NYSC: Success Story Amidst Crisis
NYSC: Success Story Amidst Crisis
Submitted by James Uzondu
on Mon, 08/08/2011
With the current security challenges facing the country, the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has experienced a rather troubled period with several calls for its proscription or realignment, but the ability of the scheme to properly manage the challenges has only gone further to prove critics wrong and expose the outstanding leadership qualities of the director general. - By George Emine
Following the security challenges that Nigeria has been contending with in recent past, the National Youth Service scheme has come under severe crisis, with many calling for its proscription or realignment. This is because Nigerians were generally worried about the tide of killings, kidnapping and bombings in some parts of the north, following the post-election violence, the recent kidnap of five corps members in Rivers State, and the Boko Haram threat.While the calls for its proscription continued, others suggested that this year, especially the 2011 Batch B corp members, should not be posted to the crisis areas in the north and the south-south. There were also suggestions in some quarters that the exercise be suspended completely until the nation overcomes the present security challenges. But amidst all these calls and worries, and in the face of the obvious security challenges that the nation currently contends with, the scheme has continued unhindered.The crisis has clearly overshadowed the contributions made by the corps members in different areas such as education, health and rural development through their community development programmes as well as their primary assignment. It therefore came as a surprise when the posting of the 2011 Batch “B" corps members was announced last month, and corps members were posed to the northern parts of the country. Nigerians expressed fears and worry that action might be the beginning of the failure of the scheme and most especially, the director general, Brigadier General M. I. Tsiga, who has remained adamant in his belief that the scheme was still as worthwhile now, as it was at inception some 25 years ago.Things almost got to a head when the authorities of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko in Ondo State for instance, protested the posting of its graduates to states in the north. Such fear was birthed due to the fact that a graduate of the institution, Mr. Kehinde Jehleel Adeniji, who was serving in Bauchi State, was killed during the post election violence that erupted in some states. A statement by the Institution’s Public Relations Officer, PRO, Mr. Sola Imoru, said the, “institution is still traumatised by the death of one of its alumni. The university notices with dismay, that some of its graduates were still posted to those violence-prone states, including Bauchi, where Adeniji was mercilessly hacked to death, without sufficient guarantee of their safety by the NYSC.” Also, traditional rulers in the oil rich Niger Delta region also called on the federal government to either scrap the scheme or restrict service to the states of origin of the corps members, saying it was really painful that corps members became the target for attack by rioters.According to the statement, the university had received various calls from parents and guardians of graduating students, and some of them too, about their apprehension in being posted to those states. Consequently, the university asked that its graduates should not be posted to the crisis states in order to guarantee their safety and assuage the anxiety of the students and their parents.But in all these, the director general proved to be on top of the situation, dousing all fears. For instance, in view of the insecurity caused by the continuing Boko Haram insurgence, Brigadier General, Maharazu Tsiga, ordered that he could not allow the corps members to remain in the state that is being fled by even the residents. He said he was encouraged by the courage of the corps members, who, despite the pressures from their respective homes, kept calm till the end of the two weeks orientation exercise. But expressing so much confidence in the DG who most corps members see as a father, about 140 members of the corps members that participated in the orientation exercise, had surprisingly insisted on staying behind in Maiduguri State against the fears being expressed by their parents and relatives for their life, so they were posted to areas outside the crisis zone in the state.Instead of being deterred, the director general of the scheme has continued to reaffirm his commitment to make sure the scheme works. He has also taken it upon himself to ensure that the corps members’ welfare is adequately taken care of. He has made it a point of duty to ensure that all stakeholders are made to be committed to the scheme. The security challenges which has most times been over bloated by mischief makers, has only become to him a challenge to overcome. The 2011 batch B’ Orientation provided an avenue for accessing the success of the campaign which the director general had taken to all stakeholders including state governors. Many governors naturally threw away the outcry against the scheme and instead pledged their support for its success.According to the Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, despite the challenges encountered by the programme, it was still worthy of being sustained. The governor therefore, charged employers not to reject corps members posted to them for primary assignments.The Bauchi State governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, whose state was virtually blacklisted by parents and guardians of corps members, also directed local government council chairmen in the state to ensure adequate security for NYSC members posted to their domains. Governor Yuguda said his government would give priority to corps members’ welfare, adding that the state government would not condone any act of lawlessness in any guise. This was coming after a seeming imbroglio between the NYSC national headquarters and the state, over issues bothering on the welfare of corps members.The Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, also assured corps members in the state of adequate security, just as he directed the 33 local government councils to provide corpers’ lodges for serving members in their respective localities. Speaking at the official closing ceremony of the orientation camp for 2011 Batch ‘B’ corps members at Iseyin, Ajimobi said the present administration was, as a matter of policy, committed to greater comfort and security of corps members, in view of their selfless and patriotic service to the nation.In a similar vein, the Kano State government also called on companies and organisations not to reject members of NYSC, saying their service was for the humanity and essential tools for nation’s building. The state governor, Dr Musa Kwankwaso, said the administration would not be happy with public agencies, local government and companies who rejected corps members, noting that these were people that would hold the nation in future.The Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, said the state government had put adequate apparatus in place to checkmate crisis in the state. Also, the Katsina State government has appealed to all stakeholders of the NYSC, especially the host communities, to ensure that corps members were provided with needed environment, to enable them to contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of the state. The state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, made the appeal at the official closing ceremony of the Batch ‘B’ 2011 orientation course for corps members at the state NYSC orientation camp in Katsina. He urged the corps members to actively participate in the community development service, to enable them to leave lasting footprints in their places of primary assignments.Today, the National Youth Service Scheme has become the beautiful bride especially to international agencies who troop to its headquarters to seek partnership with it. The US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terrence P Mcculley while paying a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the NYSC in Abuja, commended the scheme, saying, “through the role played by the NYSC during the polls, the scheme had distinguished itself,” and that he was impressed by the commitment and patriotism demonstrated by the corps members, especially those engaged for election duties.After a long struggle, the NYSC members who were receiving a paltry N9, 775.00 are now receive N19, 800.00 as allowance with effect from March 2011. But despite the success, the director general said his dream is to see that every corps member receives N50,000 monthly before he leaves office. The accolades have also continued to pour in for the director general who incidentally is the first DG who passed through the service himself. Recently, the center for democratic governance in Africa, gave the amiable director general a distinguished Service Award (Gold 2011) for his outstanding achievements as the NYSC helmsman, whose resilience and doggedness, is believed to be one huge driving force in the huge successes so far recorded by the scheme. And for parents and guardians, they now have their confidence strengthened as they know that the security and welfare of their children and wards is paramount to the scheme.
Submitted by James Uzondu
on Mon, 08/08/2011
With the current security challenges facing the country, the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has experienced a rather troubled period with several calls for its proscription or realignment, but the ability of the scheme to properly manage the challenges has only gone further to prove critics wrong and expose the outstanding leadership qualities of the director general. - By George Emine
Following the security challenges that Nigeria has been contending with in recent past, the National Youth Service scheme has come under severe crisis, with many calling for its proscription or realignment. This is because Nigerians were generally worried about the tide of killings, kidnapping and bombings in some parts of the north, following the post-election violence, the recent kidnap of five corps members in Rivers State, and the Boko Haram threat.While the calls for its proscription continued, others suggested that this year, especially the 2011 Batch B corp members, should not be posted to the crisis areas in the north and the south-south. There were also suggestions in some quarters that the exercise be suspended completely until the nation overcomes the present security challenges. But amidst all these calls and worries, and in the face of the obvious security challenges that the nation currently contends with, the scheme has continued unhindered.The crisis has clearly overshadowed the contributions made by the corps members in different areas such as education, health and rural development through their community development programmes as well as their primary assignment. It therefore came as a surprise when the posting of the 2011 Batch “B" corps members was announced last month, and corps members were posed to the northern parts of the country. Nigerians expressed fears and worry that action might be the beginning of the failure of the scheme and most especially, the director general, Brigadier General M. I. Tsiga, who has remained adamant in his belief that the scheme was still as worthwhile now, as it was at inception some 25 years ago.Things almost got to a head when the authorities of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko in Ondo State for instance, protested the posting of its graduates to states in the north. Such fear was birthed due to the fact that a graduate of the institution, Mr. Kehinde Jehleel Adeniji, who was serving in Bauchi State, was killed during the post election violence that erupted in some states. A statement by the Institution’s Public Relations Officer, PRO, Mr. Sola Imoru, said the, “institution is still traumatised by the death of one of its alumni. The university notices with dismay, that some of its graduates were still posted to those violence-prone states, including Bauchi, where Adeniji was mercilessly hacked to death, without sufficient guarantee of their safety by the NYSC.” Also, traditional rulers in the oil rich Niger Delta region also called on the federal government to either scrap the scheme or restrict service to the states of origin of the corps members, saying it was really painful that corps members became the target for attack by rioters.According to the statement, the university had received various calls from parents and guardians of graduating students, and some of them too, about their apprehension in being posted to those states. Consequently, the university asked that its graduates should not be posted to the crisis states in order to guarantee their safety and assuage the anxiety of the students and their parents.But in all these, the director general proved to be on top of the situation, dousing all fears. For instance, in view of the insecurity caused by the continuing Boko Haram insurgence, Brigadier General, Maharazu Tsiga, ordered that he could not allow the corps members to remain in the state that is being fled by even the residents. He said he was encouraged by the courage of the corps members, who, despite the pressures from their respective homes, kept calm till the end of the two weeks orientation exercise. But expressing so much confidence in the DG who most corps members see as a father, about 140 members of the corps members that participated in the orientation exercise, had surprisingly insisted on staying behind in Maiduguri State against the fears being expressed by their parents and relatives for their life, so they were posted to areas outside the crisis zone in the state.Instead of being deterred, the director general of the scheme has continued to reaffirm his commitment to make sure the scheme works. He has also taken it upon himself to ensure that the corps members’ welfare is adequately taken care of. He has made it a point of duty to ensure that all stakeholders are made to be committed to the scheme. The security challenges which has most times been over bloated by mischief makers, has only become to him a challenge to overcome. The 2011 batch B’ Orientation provided an avenue for accessing the success of the campaign which the director general had taken to all stakeholders including state governors. Many governors naturally threw away the outcry against the scheme and instead pledged their support for its success.According to the Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, despite the challenges encountered by the programme, it was still worthy of being sustained. The governor therefore, charged employers not to reject corps members posted to them for primary assignments.The Bauchi State governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, whose state was virtually blacklisted by parents and guardians of corps members, also directed local government council chairmen in the state to ensure adequate security for NYSC members posted to their domains. Governor Yuguda said his government would give priority to corps members’ welfare, adding that the state government would not condone any act of lawlessness in any guise. This was coming after a seeming imbroglio between the NYSC national headquarters and the state, over issues bothering on the welfare of corps members.The Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, also assured corps members in the state of adequate security, just as he directed the 33 local government councils to provide corpers’ lodges for serving members in their respective localities. Speaking at the official closing ceremony of the orientation camp for 2011 Batch ‘B’ corps members at Iseyin, Ajimobi said the present administration was, as a matter of policy, committed to greater comfort and security of corps members, in view of their selfless and patriotic service to the nation.In a similar vein, the Kano State government also called on companies and organisations not to reject members of NYSC, saying their service was for the humanity and essential tools for nation’s building. The state governor, Dr Musa Kwankwaso, said the administration would not be happy with public agencies, local government and companies who rejected corps members, noting that these were people that would hold the nation in future.The Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, said the state government had put adequate apparatus in place to checkmate crisis in the state. Also, the Katsina State government has appealed to all stakeholders of the NYSC, especially the host communities, to ensure that corps members were provided with needed environment, to enable them to contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of the state. The state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, made the appeal at the official closing ceremony of the Batch ‘B’ 2011 orientation course for corps members at the state NYSC orientation camp in Katsina. He urged the corps members to actively participate in the community development service, to enable them to leave lasting footprints in their places of primary assignments.Today, the National Youth Service Scheme has become the beautiful bride especially to international agencies who troop to its headquarters to seek partnership with it. The US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terrence P Mcculley while paying a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the NYSC in Abuja, commended the scheme, saying, “through the role played by the NYSC during the polls, the scheme had distinguished itself,” and that he was impressed by the commitment and patriotism demonstrated by the corps members, especially those engaged for election duties.After a long struggle, the NYSC members who were receiving a paltry N9, 775.00 are now receive N19, 800.00 as allowance with effect from March 2011. But despite the success, the director general said his dream is to see that every corps member receives N50,000 monthly before he leaves office. The accolades have also continued to pour in for the director general who incidentally is the first DG who passed through the service himself. Recently, the center for democratic governance in Africa, gave the amiable director general a distinguished Service Award (Gold 2011) for his outstanding achievements as the NYSC helmsman, whose resilience and doggedness, is believed to be one huge driving force in the huge successes so far recorded by the scheme. And for parents and guardians, they now have their confidence strengthened as they know that the security and welfare of their children and wards is paramount to the scheme.
Sunday 7 August 2011
'NYSC reforms is beyond security’
'NYSC reforms is beyond security’
By Bukola Amusan, Abuja
07/08/2011
The Minister of Youth Development Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has said the on-going reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme is beyond securing corps members.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a 3 -day retreat for the staff of the ministry with the theme ‘’Youth Development and transformation Agenda’’, Abdullahi said reforming the scheme was necessary following the killing of some corps members in Bauchi state during the last general election.
He explained:”We must agree on how to reform NYSC beyond security of corps members. Security is very important but the kind of reforms must be able to bring huge returns on the investment not only to the participating youth corps members but also to Nigeria as a country,” he stated.
Abdullahi assured that the mandatory one-year service will now be used to turn young people to job creators.
He said the era of going about with Curriculum Vitae after the scheme was over.
He condemned the organisation of youth empowerment schemes by some agencies and ministries without input from the Ministry of Youth Development, which he said should be on the driving seat with such efforts.
By Bukola Amusan, Abuja
07/08/2011
The Minister of Youth Development Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has said the on-going reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme is beyond securing corps members.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a 3 -day retreat for the staff of the ministry with the theme ‘’Youth Development and transformation Agenda’’, Abdullahi said reforming the scheme was necessary following the killing of some corps members in Bauchi state during the last general election.
He explained:”We must agree on how to reform NYSC beyond security of corps members. Security is very important but the kind of reforms must be able to bring huge returns on the investment not only to the participating youth corps members but also to Nigeria as a country,” he stated.
Abdullahi assured that the mandatory one-year service will now be used to turn young people to job creators.
He said the era of going about with Curriculum Vitae after the scheme was over.
He condemned the organisation of youth empowerment schemes by some agencies and ministries without input from the Ministry of Youth Development, which he said should be on the driving seat with such efforts.
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