The National Youth Service Corps has come under heavy scrutiny from young Nigerians, especially in these times of rising insecurity. It would appear that the one-year program is losing value in the eyes of young Nigerians faced with fear for their lives and safety, rising unemployment and the diminishing prospects of kickstarting a real career through the program.
Recently, the Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, may have added more to the disillusionment after he stated that members of the National Youth Service Corps should be allowed to undergo military training to learn how to handle guns for self-defence under a 2-year scheme.
“When the security can’t protect you, then something in the alternative must come in, we must be practical. Train people, give them practical induction, let them know what to do.
The NYSC I will say should be two years. One year for compulsory military training and the other year for the social works that they are doing now so that anybody who graduates as an NYSC person can know how to handle the gun and defend himself just as it is done in Israel, Lebanon and other places. You must engage your citizens to be proactive. When you cannot provide security, you must allow the people to protect themselves,” Governor Ishaku said.
