Mixed reactions trail NYSC reforms

Nigerians have continued to express divergent views on the Federal Government’s extension of the National Youth Service Corps orientation course and other reforms approved for the scheme.

The government extended the orientation course from three weeks to six weeks.

The reforms are aimed at strengthening skills acquisition, improving career development and repositioning the scheme to better meet national development needs.

In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Sunday, some respondents said the extension would improve employability, while others described it as ill-timed and unnecessary.

A serving corps member, Miss Victoria Oyerinde, said a six-week orientation course would provide additional time for training, skills acquisition and bonding among corps members if properly structured.

She, however, said the longer duration could impose an additional financial burden on participants unless camp conditions are improved, postings are transparent and the National Youth Service Corps Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme is adequately funded.

An undergraduate, Miss Melody Addo, said the reforms reflected good intentions and urged effective implementation to ensure corps members are adequately equipped for national service and the future

She suggested integrating skills acquisition throughout the one-year national service and placing greater emphasis on digital skills to improve graduates’ employability.

A teacher, Miss Kemisola Odejide, described the extension as ill-timed, saying the Federal Government had yet to adequately address challenges relating to corps members’ feeding, accommodation, healthcare and general welfare under the existing three-week programme.

She, however, welcomed the introduction of specialised career streams, saying posting corps members to organisations related to their fields of study would add value to their national service and provide them with relevant work experience.

Odejide urged the government to prioritise the timely payment of corps members’ allowances, improved security and general welfare.

She said the government should not consider changing corps members’ uniform from the traditional khaki to adire, arguing that the khaki reflects the scheme’s national outlook.

A former corps member, Miss Esther Oluwakomiyo, described the six-week orientation course as excessive.

She, however, said specialised postings would benefit graduates whose assignments align with their academic disciplines.

She urged the government to pay greater attention to broader reforms of Nigeria’s education system and improved employment opportunities for graduates of tertiary institutions.

An entrepreneur, Mr Oluwasegun Sowunmi, said the government should improve camp facilities, decongest orientation camps and enhance corps members’ feeding while extending the duration of the orientation course.

According to him, specialised career streams would only be meaningful if they are linked to relevant employment opportunities after national service.

He advocated making the extended orientation course optional and called for increased allowances, improved security and better welfare for corps members.

Another entrepreneur, Mr David Edogun, said the extension was unnecessary, describing the current three-week orientation course as sufficient.

He, however, lauded career-based postings, saying they would improve graduates’ knowledge and skills.

Edogun urged the government to prioritise national security, improve camp facilities and review corps members’ monthly allowance upward.

An employer, Mr Ekemini Ido, urged the government to focus on strengthening graduates’ employability through an improved education curriculum and better utilisation of the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme rather than extending the orientation course. (NAN)