Two leading public figures have called for making the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) a voluntary scheme. As Nigeria celebrates the golden jubilee of the NYSC, Professors Attahiru Jega and Anthony Kila have asked the Federal Government to review its policies on the NYSC and to make the programme a voluntary scheme.

Anthony Kila, a professor of strategy and development and director at the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies had in his book “Epistles” published in November 2022, advocated for a radical reform of the NYSC or its total scrapping. Kila reiterated his position on Sunday 14th May in a TV programme while on a panel discussion together with Professor Bolaji Akinterinwa and anchored by Reuben Abati.

For Kila, the NYSC as it stands today is archaic and redundant and does not meet the needs of contemporary Nigeria. Prof Kila also frowned at the use of NYSC members to replace teachers in schools. For him, “using NYSC member to meet the scarcity of teachers is a grave indictment of our understanding of education and an index of how little a value we place on education”. The NYSC of the future according to Kila has to be voluntary and aimed at national duties like security and elections.

In line with professor Kila’s position, Professor Attahiru Jega a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Monday in Abuja while delivering a lecture to commemorate NYSC’s 50th anniversary called on the government to reduce the number of members called to serve in the NYSC programme and to make the scheme voluntary rather than mandatory with high CGPA as prequalification for participation. Jega also called for improved welfare for corps members and steps that will motivate staff administering the scheme.

The NYSC clocked 50 this year, it was launched in 1973 under the General Gowon administration as a means to foster unity and nation building among Nigerians.

President Buhari in a statement had earlier praised General Gowon for his foresight in initiating the scheme. Speaking in Abuja at the same event as professor Jega, the Minister of Youth Development, Chief Sunday Dare noted that NYSC has become a household name in the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

[insidenigeriang]