National Youth Service Corps

National Youth Service Corps

NYSC redirects here. See also New York Supreme Court.

A Corps member and his students
Tap water project done by Corps members

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is an organization set up by the Nigerian government to involve the country's graduates in the development of the country. There is no military conscription in Nigeria, but since 1973 graduates of universities and later polytechnics have been required to take part in the National Youth Service Corps program for one year.[1] This is known as national service year. Ahmadu Ali served as the first Director-General of the NYSC until 1975.[2] The incumbent Director-General is Brig. Gen. Sule Zakari Kazaure.[3]

Operations

"Corp" members are posted to cities far from their city of origin. They are expected to mix with people of other tribes, social and family backgrounds, to learn the culture of the indigenes in the place they are posted to. This action is aimed at bringing about unity in the country and to help youths appreciate other ethnic groups. There is an "orientation" period of approximately three weeks spent in a military controlled boot "camp" away from family and friends. There is also a "passing out ceremony" at the end of the year and primary assignment followed by one month of vacation.

Merit

Nigerian Graduates are ineligible for employment till they have completed the mandatory one year service, Graduates who are exempted from the service include those above the age of thirty (30) and those with physical disability, therefore completing the service year entitles one to employment. During the service year, Corps members have the opportunity of learning of the cultures of other people an opportunity many Nigerians never get in their lifetime. The program has also helped in creating entry-level jobs for many Nigerian youth. An NYSC forum dedicated to the NYSC members was built to bridge the gap amongst members serving across Nigeria and also an avenue for corpers to share job information and career resources as well as getting loans from the National Directorate Of Employment.

Demerit

The program has been met with serious criticism by a large portion of the country. The NYSC members have complained of being underpaid, paid late or not paid at all.[4] Several youths carrying out the NYSC program have been killed in the regions where they were sent due to religious violence, ethnic violence or political violence.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Marenin, Otwin (1990). "Implementing Deployment Policies in the National Youth Service Corps of Nigeria". Comparative Political Studies. London: SAGE Publishers. 22 (4): 397–436. doi:10.1177/0010414090022004002. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
  2. ↑ "A Cup of Tea From Yakubu Gowon". AllAfrica. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "About DG". NYSC.gov.ng. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  4. ↑ http://www.punchng.com/news/corps-members-protest-in-kaduna-over-allowances/
  5. ↑ Visit The Official NYSC Interactive Website/ Forum http://www.nyscforum.org
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