NYSC should be strengthened, not scrapped, says Jega.

MORE opposition yesterday came for those pushing for the scrapping of the mandatory one-year scheme of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), as the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, said that the programme, rather than be scrapped, should be strengthened.

Jega spoke against the backdrop of calls for the abolition of the scheme following the post-election violence that erupted in April in some parts of the country and claimed the lives of 10 Corps members, who were on electoral duty.

The INEC boss spoke in Abuja during the donation of some electronic equipment to the NYSC by the European Union (EU) Observer Mission in Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria can ill-afford to dump the scheme which he noted "represents a great national asset and reservoir of human capital".

Recalling that he was chairman of a presidential committee mandated to review and restructure the scheme in 2003, the INEC chief said the objectives of the NYSC have become more relevant than in its early years.

He urged that rather than scrap the scheme, it should be strengthened to deliver on those objectives that informed its establishment. 

Jega said: "We have heard some people debating whether to dismantle the NYSC or refocus it or re-organize it. I want to say something here that many people do not know. 

"In 2003, I chaired a presidential committee for the review and re-organization of NYSC and we made recommendations about how to improve the NYSC.

 "At that time we did a serious study and we discovered that the objectives under which the NYSC was established were much stronger in contemporary times than when it was established.

"Oh really, we can do nothing but strengthen the NYSC, rather than even beginning to think of dismantling it or re-organizing it."

The INEC chair expressed empathy with the families of youth corps members who lost their lives in the post-election violence.

His words: "As we have said before and I want to repeat it today, I think the disappointment and the displeasure over the death of the NYSC members should not distract our minds from the very positive contributions that the NYSC makes, and there is tremendous hope for the NYSC to continue the democratization and development of our country."

Source:
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