The Executive Director of the Centre for Responsive Governance, Ayodeji Ologun, has urged the Federal Government to suspend the proposed reforms of the National Youth Service Corps until extensive public hearings are conducted, warning that the current process lacks inclusiveness and could undermine the objectives of the scheme.
Ologun made the call on Monday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, Ogun State.
According to him, while there is no dispute that the NYSC requires reforms, any review of the scheme should emerge from broad consultations involving stakeholders in youth development rather than hurried policy decisions.
“So, the recommendation and the provision of it should be suspended until the right thing is done, which is averting opinions and ideas through public hearing by everyone interested and is involved in issues that have to do with youth development,” he said.
He argued that the proposed reforms, if implemented without adequate consultations, would fail to address the fundamental challenges confronting the scheme.
Ologun said, “There’s no doubt that the NYSC has been due for review because it has almost lost its relevance, it has almost lost its importance, it has almost lost the intent on which the founding fathers of the NYSC scheme had in mind. But when we eventually choose to address the issues, we don’t address them holistically or the way they should be.”
The governance advocate maintained that there was no justification for rushing the reform process, insisting that meaningful changes should be driven by public participation.
“There’s nothing to rush about these reforms. Reforming the NYSC is a good idea, but there’s nothing to be in a rush about. Let the proper change be done,” he stated.
Ologun also questioned the emphasis being placed on entrepreneurship in the proposed reforms, saying several business support initiatives already exist within the NYSC.
According to him, corps members currently have access to grants, loans, business registration support and entrepreneurship training through multiple intervention programmes.
“As I speak to you, there are five schemes within the NYSC that I’m aware of whereby young people are given loans, grants and support entrepreneurship as members of the NYSC. These programmes are already running, so government should enhance and harmonise them instead of presenting them as new initiatives,” he said.
He advised the Federal Government to strengthen existing programmes rather than introduce reforms that merely duplicate initiatives already in operation.
On the proposal to replace military leadership of the NYSC with civilian leadership, Ologun described the move as politically motivated and warned that it could erode one of the scheme’s strongest attributes, discipline.
He alleged that the administration appeared more interested in creating political appointments than strengthening public institutions.
“One of the things that the NYSC has been able to do over the years is to ensure discipline among young people. No matter how undisciplined you are, when you go to the camp for those three weeks, you take on a new lifestyle,” he said.
He added that removing the military and paramilitary structure from the orientation programme could weaken the values the scheme has promoted for decades.
“So when you take that away, what is left? You are making a mess of the scheme because the issue of discipline and regimented lifestyle that teaches young people there is more to life after school should not be discouraged,” Ologun said.
