“NYSC Scheme Won’t Be Scrapped” – FG
The Nigerian Government has announced that it will not be swayed by agitations from some quarters to scrap the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
Speaking in Lagos on Tuesday, January 5, the Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalong, said the NYSC had come to stay, adding that its merits outweighed its disadvantages.
He said,
“We cannot dismiss the gains of the NYSC scheme in integrating Nigeria; I will stand firmly for the sustenance of the system, to continue in its capacity-building of Nigeria citizens because, it is an indispensable aspect of diversifying our culture.”
While pledging the Federal Government’s continued support for the scheme, the minister said that plan was in place to train interested graduates in skills acquisition after the mandatory one-year service.
“Apart from the basic orientation programme, the NYSC scheme should also move into including professional and enterprising programmes to support and motivate those who would not want to embrace public services in the country.
“After the mandatory one-year service, the Federal Government is planning an extension, to professionally train interested corps members in skill acquisition, enterprising and professional programmes.
“Corps members with keen interest would be retained and some financial token given to them as start-up capital in furtherance of their skill. This is because due to our research, we find out that people abandon school due to uncertainty of the future. Hence, we believe this would help reduce the unemployed graduate ratio and curtail pressure on white-collar job as a means to win the war against poverty”, he further stated.”
