NYSC IS IN NEED OF URGENT REFORMATION OR DISSOLUTION
By Ben AHANONU The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a mandatory, post-tertiary education scheme, established by Decree No. 24 of May 22nd, 1973, by the military administration of Gowon as a post-civil war initiative aimed at promoting national unity and integration. Since 1973, graduates of Nigerian universities, and polytechnics under the age of 30, have been required to take part in the National Youth Service Corps programme for one year and Ahmadu Ali served as the first Director-General (DG) of the NYSC until 1975. The NYSC was established to promote national unity and patriotism, foster self-reliance, inculcate discipline, provide practical experience, and encourage community development among others but the question is to what extent has the aims been achieved in more than half a century of its existence? Objectively, the concept of NYSC is fantastic but in practical terms, it is a disaster, given the fact that the scheme is bedevilled by system...