By Gift Chapi Odekina
ABUJA — Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Rep. Philip Agbese, has urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend the implementation of the Federal Government’s proposed reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), saying the planned changes require broader consultation.
Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, made the appeal in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.
A member of the House Committees on Youth and Defence, the lawmaker described the NYSC as a strategic national institution whose founding objectives should be preserved while reforms are considered.
His comments followed the Federal Government’s unveiling of what the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described as the first comprehensive review of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973.
The proposed reforms include restructuring the orientation camp into three phases, introducing 11 specialised career streams for prospective corps members, strengthening skills acquisition programmes, replacing the traditional khaki uniform with locally made attire and appointing a civilian as Director-General of the scheme instead of a military officer.
The proposals have generated mixed reactions, with some stakeholders welcoming the changes as a step towards modernising the scheme, while others have expressed concerns about their potential impact on its original objectives.
Agbese said reforms are necessary but argued that they should not diminish the NYSC’s role in promoting national integration and supporting national development.
According to him, the scheme has, over the years, contributed to key sectors including education, healthcare, elections and emergency response, in addition to fostering unity among young Nigerians.
The lawmaker also expressed reservations about the proposal to appoint a civilian as Director-General of the scheme, stating that its military leadership tradition has contributed to discipline, patriotism and national preparedness among corps members.
He called on President Tinubu to establish a broader review committee comprising security experts, lawmakers, former NYSC officials, youth groups and other stakeholders to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the proposed reforms before implementation.
Established on May 22, 1973, under the administration of General Yakubu Gowon, the NYSC was created to promote national unity and reconciliation after the Nigerian Civil War by deploying graduates to states outside their regions of origin.
For more than five decades, the scheme has supported government programmes in education, healthcare, elections and community development while promoting cultural integration among Nigerians.
The proposed reforms represent the most extensive review of the NYSC since its establishment and have reignited debate over the future direction of the national service scheme.
