NYSC: FG Itches For Extension Of Service Year

By Ayodele Oni

After over 50 years of its existence, the Federal Government has hinted about the possibility of extending the service year of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC).

The NYSC scheme remains one of the legacies of the military administration in Nigeria which floated the scheme.

The National Youth Service Corps was established in 1973 by Decree No. 24 of 22nd May, 1973.

The Scheme was conceived after the civil war of 1967 as a means to concretize the Federal government agenda of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction for national integration.

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, put forward proposal  for the extension of the service year of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to two years.

The Minister, also, hailed the scheme for the digitalized process that has helped in curbing certificate racketeering involving some foreign trained graduates within West Africa.

Remarking on Friday when the new DG of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja, the Minister, also, spoke on the lingering issue of OND part-time graduates with full-time HND who were previously exempted from National Service.

The Minister particularly advocated “for the extension of national service from one to two years, with the expansion of NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Training programme content for Corps Members.

“You have done so well as an organization. Let NYSC give people more opportunity to become job creators that will meet the needs of the country.”

General Nafiu lauded the minister, saying he has been innovative and has achieved giant strides in the education sector.

He called for the establishment of a database of Nigerian youths going abroad for degree programmes

“NYSC is ready to comply with policy guidelines as directed by the Federal Government. We are also trying to reform the Scheme to conform with the present national needs.”