A youth advocacy group has urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend aspects of the proposed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) reforms.
It believed that fundamentally altering the scheme risks destroying one of Nigeria's most important instruments for national unity and discipline.
The Coalition for National Unity and Youth Development, in a statement signed on Sunday by its President, Abdulrahman Sani, and Secretary, Grace Nwafor, acknowledged the government's modernisation drive but argued that the proposals needed far broader consultation before any legislation began.
"We respectfully appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to allow a historic national institution to be fundamentally altered without exhaustive consultation.
"Mr President has consistently demonstrated that he listens to Nigerians, and we sincerely beg him to pause this process and allow broader stakeholder engagement before any irreversible decision is taken," the statement read.
The coalition called for an expanded review committee comprising former NYSC directors-general, security experts, university administrators, employers, labour unions, youth organisations and civil society groups to examine the proposals before they reach the National Assembly.
At the heart of the group's worries was the fear that reforms aimed at skills acquisition could hollow out the scheme's founding purpose.
"It would be unfortunate if the NYSC gradually loses its identity and becomes known merely as another government skills acquisition programme.
"Skills are important, but they are not the reason the scheme was created.
"Its greatest achievement has been bringing young Nigerians together across ethnic, religious and regional divides at a time when our country desperately needed healing," the statement said.
The coalition also defended the military component of the orientation camp, pointing to global examples to make its case.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Pushes On with South Africa Evacuations
"Across the world, countries such as Singapore, South Korea, Israel and Switzerland continue to expose their young citizens to structured national or military service because they understand that national development depends not only on knowledge but also on discipline, sacrifice and civic responsibility. Nigeria should strengthen that tradition rather than weaken it," it said.
The group cited the scheme's track record during national emergencies to reinforce its value.
"When COVID-19 placed enormous pressure on our healthcare system, it was not only permanent government workers who answered the call.
"Hundreds of NYSC doctors, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory scientists stood on the frontlines in isolation centres and public hospitals across the country.
"During elections, disease outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies, corps members have repeatedly proven that the NYSC is a national emergency asset, not just a youth programme," the statement read.
On the question of digitalisation, the coalition dismissed it as a new reform, insisting that the scheme had long operated one of the most advanced digital administrative systems in the public sector.
It argued that the bigger challenge was funding, not technology.
The group also pointed to the Adire uniform controversy as proof that the reforms had not been adequately thought through.
"It is telling that what was introduced as a comprehensive reform quickly became a national conversation about Adire and uniforms.
"That should convince everyone that the proposals require deeper engagement before legislation begins," it stated.
Recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had earlier approved a comprehensive overhaul of the NYSC, the first systematic reform since the scheme's establishment in 1973.
The reforms included a shift to civilian leadership, a technology-driven call-up process, risk-sensitive deployment, a redesigned orientation programme and skills-based primary assignments.
FEC also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to commence amendments to the NYSC Act to give the changes legal backing.
0 Comments