No Scrapping of NYSC, says House Committee.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a program set up by the Nigerian government to involve Nigerian graduates in nation building and the development of the country. There is no military conscription in Nigeria, but since 1973 graduates of universities and later polytechnics have been required to take part in the National Youth Service Corps program for a period of one year. This is known as national service year. 

Ahmadu Ali served as the first Director-General of the NYSC until 1975. The current Director-General is Shuaibu Ibrahim. The main purpose for the National Youth Service Corps is to Foster national unity. The headquarters of the National Youth Service Corps is in Abuja, Nigeria. The founder of the National Youth Service Corps is General Yakubu Gowon. The members of the National Youth Service Corps program are all Nigeria below the age of thirty.

Mr Yemi Adaramodu, chairman house commitee on your development has given assurance that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme would not be scrapped. 

He gave this assurance at the unveiling of nine books on NYSC and a maiden NYSC film to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the scheme in Abuja on Thursday, 11th June, 2021. General Shuaibu Ibrahim, the Director-General of NYSC, said in his welcome address that he believed that the documentation of the scheme’s activities would enrich the knowledge of Nigerians.  

General Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State and founder of the NYSC scheme, joined the programme via Zoom. He said it was the only scheme that could tell people how important and crucial they were to the national integration and unity of Nigeria.

Gowon said that 48 years was a long time and applauded the successive leadership of the scheme for their invaluable contributions that has kept the scheme growing from strength to strength.  

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, spoke in the same vain, he said that he had headed many organisations that utilized the service of corps members, explaining that no amount of money can buy the unity that the scheme stood for.

While identifying with the virtues of the NYSC, He noted that the scheme remained the only successful indigenous institution that brought Nigerian youth together to appreciate their diversities.

The books unveiled at the aniversary included NYSC (1973-2020) Emergence, Growth and Development; NYSC and National development; NYSC and Community development service in Nigeria, NYSC and elections in Nigeria; NYSC and National integration; NYSC and Nigeria’s health sector; NYSC and the educational sector; NYSC and COVID-19 pandemic as well as NYSC and Skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development.

The maiden NYSC film titled ”A call to service” was among items unveiled to mark the scheme’s 48th anniversary.