Group Hails FG Over Proposed NYSC Reform *Wants Deployment of Corps members to State of Origin

 By Austin Genesis 

A renowned development-oriented organization in the core of the Niger Delta Region under the aegis of  Bàyelsa Development Action Group (BADAG) has commended the Federal Executive Council of Nigeria led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over its wise decision to amend the 53 years old National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

The group who made the commendation in a communique issued in Yenagoa, capital of Bàyelsa state on Sunday, signed by its President, Chief Ernest Jacob Eyineni and the Director-General, Comrade Inegbagha Majesty also urged the federal government to  include deployment of NYSC Corps members to their respective states of origin or their geopolitical zone in the proposed amendment. 

Chief Ernest Jacob, President 

Comrade Inegbagha Majesty, Director-General 

The group made its position known after a thorough examination of the multifarious problems bedeviling the scheme, stating emphatically that the reform is a step in the right direction as it will salvage corps members  from the shackle of insecurity and economic hardship as well safeguard  lives and properties.

The body called on all federal and state lawmakers as well as citizens of the country irrespective of religious  background and political affiliations to embrace the new reform.

The group also urged the federal government to provide adequate welfare package for the Corps members, land security at the various orientation camps under its approved comprehensive overhauled of the 53-year-old scheme and extension of the orientation programme from three weeks to six.

On the National Alliance for Democracy (NAD) called on former Heads of State, General Yakubu Gowon, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalam Abubakar to intervene the proposed NYSC Reform, warning that any changes to the scheme must undermine its founding objectives of promoting national unity and integration, BADAG described the call as political gimmick aim to score cheap political points.

The group enjoined NAD and other critics to embrace the new reform because Nigerians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds are united, integrated and culturally exchanged.

The body pointed out that one of the major problem confronting Nigerians is the unabated insecurity in the North which it said should be a concern of all former military Heads of State, leaders and entire people of the North as well as all Nigerians on how to end the unbearable insecurity situation in the North.

The body condemned  NAD call  on former heads of state of Northern origin to battle against the genuine proposed NYSC reform, instead to enjoin them to join hands with the federal government to end the insecurity situation in the North.

The group reminded that the NYSC scheme established by General Yakubu Gowon's military government in 1973 to heal a fractured nation after a 30-month civil war that ravaged Nigeria from 1967 to 1970 has achieved its aims and Objectives several years ago, adding that Nigerians from different tribes are     living together in all  parts of the country, and intermarried.

The group said, Government has the statutory right to amend a law in line with the wishes of the people to safeguard lives and properties and make a society better.

The body highlighted some of the  challenges NYSC Corps members are facing particularly  insecurity, killings, kidnapping and deployment of corps members to a far distance areas where they have not been to, which takes two or three days travel before arriving their destinations under the worsening insecurity in the country.

The scenario they said has made some corps members lost  their lives after graduation under the scheme, stating that no parents would like their children they struggle and train which would come back to help them to go and die under the  scheme.

The group asserted that  no Nigerian deserves to be kidnapped or killed extra- judicially, adding that the worsening insecurity has made interstate deployment increasingly unsafe.

It called on the Minister of Youths and the Attorney General of the federation to draft the new NYSC reform bill and send to the National Assembly for amendment and assent.