The National Alliance for Democracy, NAD, has called on ex-Nigerian military ruler, General Yakubu Gowon, the founder of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and all former Presidents of Nigeria to urgently intervene in the ongoing proposed reforms of the scheme.
The group expressed deep concern that some aspects of the reforms approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, could undermine the core objectives of national unity, integration and cohesion for which the NYSC was established in 1973.
NAD urged the elder statesmen to quickly meet with President Bola Tinubu to ensure that any changes to the NYSC are carried out strictly in line with the broader national interest and the founding ideals of the programme.
“General Yakubu Gowon and our former Presidents have a historic responsibility to protect the NYSC as a symbol of Nigerian unity. We call on them to immediately intervene by engaging President Tinubu on these reforms.
“The proposed changes, while claiming to modernise the scheme, risk diluting its primary purpose of fostering national integration. National interest must supersede any rushed alterations that could weaken this vital institution,” NAD National Convener, Dr. Lucky Eremosele, said.
The group acknowledged the need for modernisation but warned against reforms that shift the NYSC too far towards commercial or skills-only focus at the expense of its unity mandate.
It highlighted the current security challenges and ethno-religious tensions across the country, noting that the NYSC’s traditional deployment model has played a crucial role in promoting understanding among Nigeria’s diverse population.
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