NOTICE FOR ALL CURRENT NYSC PARTICIPANTS
A notice for all current /upcoming NYSC participants in the appraisal of the activities of the National Youth Service Corps under the present leadership structure led by Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim (2019 -Date) for public presentation on Tuesday 25th May, 2021.
Introduction: NOTICE FOR ALL CURRENT NYSC PARTICIPANTS The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a programme set up by the Nigerian government to involve Nigerian graduates in nation-building and the country's development on 22 May 1973. It also aimed to be that avenue for the reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the nation after the civil war through the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity. In recent times, there have been clamours regarding the Scheme's usefulness in promoting national unity in the country. This much has led to the call in some quarters for the scrapping of the Scheme.
NOTICE FOR ALL CURRENT NYSC PARTICIPANTS
The Nigeria Good Governance Group, which is a coalition of 20 CSOs in fulfilment of its mandate of monitoring accountability and transparency in governance, undertook a strategic assessment of the NYSC under the present administration with a view highlighting the progress recorded in the years under review with regards to promoting national unity amongst youths in the country. This assessment report was subjected to layers of scrutiny and verification to bring about a high level of objectivity and the actual state of affairs with the operations of the Scheme in the years under review (2019-date). It relied on first-hand information sourced from credible sources through interviews with relevant stakeholders that includes but not limited to both serving and past corps members, community leaders, religious institutions, and parents and guardians.
The Issues: Impact of the NYSC in National Development: The report scrutinized the impact of the NYSC on national development. It was discovered that the NYSC under the present leadership has been relentless in inculcating the corps members the spirit of unity through a strict posting policy that ensures that corps members are posted to localities where they haven't been to before in their lives with a view to under the culture and the way of life of other Nigerians. This much saw to a posting policy that is devoid of favouritism and preferential treatment, which was the norm and almost marred the smooth operations of the Scheme. It was observed that the posting policy indeed ensured that corps members contributed positively in their places of primary assignment across the country. This can be seen in the NYSC Foundation activities that are set to launch the new Youth Empowerment initiatives to avail serving and ex-Corps Members the opportunity to utilize their talents and harness their potentials in promoting the socio-economic development of the country. Entrepreneurship amongst corps members: It was discovered that the NYSC leadership placed a premium on building entrepreneurship amongst corps members by developing entrepreneurship skills amongst corps members. For example, the NYSC recently partnered Leventis Foundation on agric training for Corps Members as part of its commitment to ensuring that Corps Members are fully empowered with relevant skills and other incentives that would reduce graduate unemployment and increase food sufficiency in the country. The National Youth Service Corps has also unfolded its plan to partner with the National Council for Arts and Culture to boost its revenue drive and empower Corps Members who are talented in Arts and Culture. This is in addition to establishing the NYSC National Cultural Troupe and NYSC Cultural Festival, which are avenues for Corps Members to showcase their talents and promote the rich cultural heritage of the country. The welfare of corps members; It was observed that the welfare of Corps Members had taken centre stage through the introduction of improved welfare packages for Corps Members. This report was able to identify that Corps Members have never had it good in the years under review as there are in place, mechanisms to ensure that Corps Members are adequately taken care of during their service year. Relevant stakeholders across the board corroborated this much. Transparency and Accountability: It was also observed that in the years under review, there has been an entrenchment of transparency and accountability in the operations of the NYSC. The various processes in the operations of the NYSC have been top-notch and with little room for manipulations. According to findings, NYSC DG read a riot act to staffers upon assumption of office on the necessity of transparency and accountability in their official conduct. This, it was observed, led to an improvement in the productivity level of staffers and the attendant smooth operations of the activities of the Scheme. It suffices to mention that the DG has been exceptional in this regard as he has led by example. This is responsible for the level of commitment and compliance to the overarching objective of promoting national unity. Leadership Drive: This report was able to identify that the NYSC DG has provided exceptional leadership since his assumption of office. This was identified through interactions with relevant stakeholders, who heaped praises on the leadership style of the DG that is hinged on enviable level transparency and accountability. The NYSC DG has been able to galvanize support from critical stakeholders for the NYSC by signing MoUs in critical areas such as agriculture, health, and education. The NYSC DG has also provided exemplary leadership through the introduction of institutional reforms in the operations of the NYSC. This is indeed commendable and an indication that the NYSC is well-positioned for achieving its mandate. Conclusion: The Nigeria Good Governance Group, as a result of this assessment, concludes that the NYSC leadership led by Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has been exceptional in introducing reforms that have positioned the NYSC for greater efficiency. Thus, it is a statement that Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has provided credible leadership in the NYSC since he assumed leadership. Recommendations: The Nigeria Good Governance Group, as a result of the findings from this report, recommends that there is a need for the relevant stakeholders in Nigeria to rally support for the NYSC in this critical point of our existence that is occasioned by threats to the continued peace and tranquillity in the country by some unpatriotic elements amongst us that are bent on seeing to the disintegration of the country. It is our considered opinion that given the notable achievements recorded in the NYSC in the years under review, it is imperative to state that it behoves on the leadership of the NYSC not to rest on its oars as the task at hand requires more proactive measures towards ensuring that the NYSC continues to contribute to the socio-economic development of Nigeria in ways too numerous to mention.
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