Here is a post which is set to give you all you need to know about the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). In this brief but detailed post, we are going to e giving you the history of this scheme, the purpose of its establishment, the motto, and lots more.
We at KikioTolu News are determined to bring you accurate and useful information from time to time.
What is NYSC?
This is for those who are not yet really familiar with this term. Though its going to be really though to find someone in Nigeria who doesn’t know what the NYSC means. NYSC is the short form of, the National Youth Service Corps. This is an organization set up by the Nigerian government to involve the country’s graduates in the development of the country for one year. The NYSC is a one year mandatory scheme for all Nigerian graduates. Even though you study abroad, you are still expected to participate in the one year mandatory service.
Who established the NYSC scheme and in what year was it established?
Some forty-four years ago (44yrs) the NYSC scheme was established. The scheme was established by decree No 24 of May 22, 1973 by General Yakubu Gowon‘s administration. The NYSC was created with a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild Nigeria after the Nigerian civil war. The unfortunate antecedents in our national history gave impetus to the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity.
Purpose for the establishment of the NYSC
Below are the purpose and objectives of the NYSC.
- To prepare and properly motivate Nigerian youths to tackle the problems of socioeconomic under development, in the interest of the country as a whole.
- To prepare Nigerian youths for leadership roles.
- To give Nigerian youths the proper guidance and orientation relevant to the needs of the country.
- To inculcate in Nigerian Youths the spirit of selfless service to the community
- To emphasize the spirit of oneness and brotherhood of all Nigerians, irrespective of cultural or social background.
- To inculcate discipline in Nigerian youths by instilling in them a tradition of industry at work, and of patriotic and loyal service to Nigeria in any situation they may find themselves.
- To raise the moral tone of the Nigerian youths by giving them the opportunity to learn about higher ideals of national achievement, social and cultural improvement
- To develop in the Nigerian youths the attitudes of mind, acquired through shared experience and suitable training. which will make them more amenable to mobilisation in the national interest
- To enable Nigerian youths acquire the spirit of self reliance by encouraging them to develop skills for self employment
- To contribute to the accelerated growth of the national economy
- To develop common ties among the Nigerian youths and promote national unity and integration
- To remove prejudices, eliminate ignorance and confirm at first hand the many similarities among Nigerians of all ethnic groups
- To develop a sense of corporate existence and common destiny of the people of Nigeria.
- The equitable distribution of members of the service corps and the effective utilisation of their skills in area of national needs
- That as far as possible, youths are assigned to jobs in States other than their States of origin
- That such group of youths assigned to work together is as representative of Nigeria as far as possible
- That the Nigerian youths are exposed to the modes of living of the people in different parts of Nigeria
- That the Nigerian youths are encouraged to eschew religious intolerance by accommodating religious differences
- That members of the service corps are encouraged to seek at the end of their one year national service, career employment all over Nigeria, thus promoting the free movement of labour
- That employers are induced partly through their experience with members of the service corps to employ more readily and on a permanent basis, qualified Nigerians, irrespective of their States of origin
How the NYSC started in Nigeria: Complete history of the scheme
Just after the Nigerian civil war, which had broken some ties and trust in the country a programme to rebuild Nigeria was kick started. This programme was known as Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation, was the one that helped set up the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on May 22, 1973. As a way of meeting the goals set in the 3R’s the scheme was established under Decree no. 24.
With a goal of establishing national ties and trust, the NYSC scheme was established such that graduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions are deployed to a state in Nigeria other than their state of origin for a compulsory one year of service to their fatherland.
After successful completion of the one year mandatory National Service, the youth is given an NYSC discharge certificate (not to be confused with call-up letter) and with this, graduates are eligible for employment in Nigeria.
