By Patrick Wemambu
Member of the House of Representatives, Chief Philip Agbese, has faulted the recent Federal Government-approved reforms to the National Youth Service Corps, warning that some of the changes could erode the scheme’s core objectives and undermine Nigeria’s national defence policy.
Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State and is the leader of the Labour Party in the state, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend implementation of the reforms and instead, constitute a broader committee to review them.
The lawmaker made the call in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja. Describing the NYSC as a national institution that has played a critical role in fostering national unity, Agbese appealed that it should not be restructured in a manner that compromises its founding ideals.
According to him; “Reducing NYSC to a skill acquisition training centre is not healthy for our national life.”
He maintained that beyond its role in youth development; “The NYSC has over the years served as a strategic national institution, particularly during emergencies, by deploying corps members to support critical sectors, including education, healthcare and electoral services.”
It would be recalled that Agbese’s comments come days after the Federal Government unveiled what the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, labelled the first comprehensive review of the NYSC scheme since its establishment in 1973.
The proposed reforms include splitting the orientation camp into three phases, introducing 11 specialised career streams from which prospective corps members would make their choice during registration, strengthening skills acquisition programmes, replacing the traditional khaki uniform with locally made attire and, for the first time, and appointing a civilian to head the scheme instead of a military officer, among others.
The reforms have, however, generated mixed reactions, with stakeholders expressing divergent views over whether the changes would strengthen or weaken the scheme’s original mandate.
