Nysc Scheme: The Hidden Benefits

"When the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable", could this regularly used parlance be the case of the National Youth Service Corp scheme?

Could it be that the general populace doesn’t understand and appreciate the efficacy, benevolence, and benefits of the scheme? Should the scheme be scrapped or not considering so many irregular factors prevalent in our society today?

These questions and many more have been at the heart of so many people who have a direct or indirect connection with the NYSC scheme.

The scheme which was birthed on 22nd May 1973 was aimed at recreating and rebuilding a country that enjoys sustainable peace and development using the youths as a core agent to achieve these goals.

It was birthed with the promulgation of the National Youth Corps Decree No. 24 which states that "The NYSC is being established with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria, inculcating discipline in Nigeria youths by instilling in them a tradition of industrious attitude, patriotic and loyal service to Nigeria in any situation they may find themselves.

Enabling Nigerian youths to acquire the spirit of self-reliance by encouraging them to develop skills for self-employment and contributing to the accelerated growth of the National economy amidst other aims.

However, amidst these promising visions of the scheme, there have been agitations and impressions to shut down this Youth-oriented enablement scheme. The big question now is, why scrap the NYSC scheme?

The security state of our dear nation has been an issue of great concern to every citizen as it has affected some of the Corps members directly.

More so some Corps members and citizens have been enveloped with fear of being posted to certain parts of the country which is a ripple effect of insecurity.

Sequel to that, the labor atmosphere of the nation has been a major concern for the proponents of the idea to scrap the NYSC scheme. Some say it's a waste of time while others say it's an underutilization of human resources.

Irrespective of the impressions to scrap the NYSC scheme, the beneficial and contributive nature of the scheme has proven to be outstanding in the growth of the nation and as such, the continuous existence of the scheme cannot be overemphasized. Some of the benefits of NYSC includes:

UNITY: The scheme is very pivotal to the unity of our dear nation and scrapping it will be fuel to the cessation ideology in Nigeria. The implication of scrapping the scheme will be that the only avenue where youths from different tribes, cultures, and states meet together has been abolished. However, the scheme has not relented in enlightening her Corps members on security issues and tips.

LABOUR: It is very imperative to note that the NYSC scheme contributes to a large extent to the labor force and the economic growth of the nation. The workforce of most government-owned primary and secondary schools are Corps Members. The deployment of Corps members to various institutions and companies as their primary place of assignment produces the labor force at a very cheaper rate because considering that most of the Corps members are not paid incommensurate to the kind of service they provide.

URBAN-RURAL DEVELOPMENT: The scheme through its Community Development Program (CDS), sends hope and development to most interior parts of our nation and the society at large. A lot of communities have been beneficiaries of water bore holes, the building of classes, building of houses, students enlightenment, and a lot more.

SKILL ACQUISITION DEVELOPMENT: Amidst several positive reasons why the scheme should not be scraped out is that the scheme is inculcating skills and self-employment opportunities to Corps members through the skill and Acquisition Entrepreneurship Program (SAED).

Nonetheless, I appeal that all loose ends should be tied up to curb down the factors that instigate the initiative to scrap NYSC and that the scheme existence is very paramount to the sustenance of peace, progress, and unity of our great nation Nigeria