It was not the usual pound and punch of thoughts that I had experienced once in a while over the past few months. This migraine was certainly different and threatened to destroy the male ego I had left, it was a combination of dabs, vibrations, thumps and any other sound that exacerbated my brain cells plight. It was so bad that I could not make conversation with anyone. Howbeit, my friend, Chris had asked earlier if I was hungry and I had struggled to provide him with a reply, not that I did not have a reply but I had been shocked. Chris asking if I wanted to eat? Truth be told, I was hungry but then I had no appetite, I did not understand how I felt hungry but did not find any meal fascinating, it was not as if I had all the meals to my disposal anyways.
Indeed, I was right with the anger, my mind was clustered with worries and my body wouldn’t have it. So there, I retired to my bed, it was on that bed, half alseep, half conscious, half immersed in my own anger. Half burnt from the inside out. Stuck in between. My body still ached from crying for almost thirty minutes, and waking up to the rat race of a life that we had to endure as a people without options. I was really angry with the helplessness of those who understood but couldn’t beat a system that had limitations to how it catered for people that were struggling. I was tired of trying to bear it all in words, as though i was strong enough. I was angry, I was upset because people praised vulnerable people for coping with everything that life had thrown at them without realizing that it wasn’t a movie, I was angry at the news of how no fewer than five prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps died when a vehicle conveying them to the North for the Batch B 2021 orientation course was involved in an auto crash in Abuja. I was really angry that night, so there I was in the middle of the night burning with an intense deep-seated anger, asking myself the questions of why would the life of such promising young individuals would waste like that in the name of serving ones father’s land.
Again, of why would they die in the name of travelling from their comfortable abode to a place of no return. I was angry that it’s not the first time this kind of tragic incidence will happen to corp members, be it abduction from the men of the underworld, road accident on the deplorable Nigerian roads and a lot of avoidable mishaps caused by this scheme. However, coming with this tragic incident, coupled with rising insecurity of corp members, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme is once again in the eye of the storm. Hence, you should know that this is not the first time the scheme has come under fire. There had been calls in the past for the scrapping of the scheme following deaths of corps members in religious and political crisis. Remember the killing of 10 corps members in Bauchi following the April Presidential elections in April 2011 was one of such incidents that caused Nigerians to call for an end to the scheme.
One wouldn’t erase the 2011 general elections, as it triggered the flame of political violence in Northern Nigeria, which led to the killing of a number of corps members. Over 20 corps members, who were mainly from the southern part of the country, lost their lives in the condemnable election violence. Also, during the 2011 election, over 50 corps members were locked inside the Nigerian Christian Corpers’ Fellowship (NCCF) Secretariat in Minna, Niger State, by some youths protesting the results of the presidential election, and the building was set on fire. Though all the corps members escaped, that was the end of the service for them, while their families urged their relations who were prospective corps members to go for exemption certificate instead of going to die for a country that did not pay their school fees, and even if they had government scholarships, they should not risk dying for the country in such gruesome manner.
One should also remember the incidence of 2012, the orientation programme for NYSC Batch “C” members across the country, which was postponed in Bayelsa, Borno and Yobe states because of insecurity as conditions across the three states then could not guarantee the safety of corps members. Hostage taking and killings in Yobe and Borno were high at that time, hence posed great risk to corps members’ safety. What of the carmine account of how some female corps members on electoral duty were forced to thumbprint for a particular party in Giade Local Government Area of Bauchi State. They were tortured, fondled by the irate protesters, and eleven of them were butchered like animals. Till date, the families of the dead corps members are still mourning their huge losses, as government only promised to “get to the root of the matter”.
December 23rd of 2020 again, kidnappers along Lokoja-Abuja Highway have abducted members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on their way from Ede NYSC Orientation Camp, Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria. A source told HumAngle that the attack happened on a Tuesday hours after the corp members left the orientation camp. Sad that a corp member identified as Suleiman Yusuf Bomoi, a graduate of English Language from the Federal University Gashua was shot dead by the armed gang. Another source close to his family told HumAngle that his body has been deposited at the Sabon Wuse General Hospital in Niger State. So tell me, why won’t a sane mind be frustrated with this provoking development? Similarly in February 2021, another corp member, Samuel Adigun, and eight others were kidnapped by some gunmen in army uniforms near Idu village, along Lokoja-Abuja Road. Tragic incidence like this happen almost everytime and might even not get to be covered by the media.
Yes, we know the NYSC, a one–year compulsory programme for students under 30 years, who studied in Nigerian tertiary institutions, or Nigerian graduates abroad, who intend to work in Nigeria, was created through decree 24 on May 22, 1973, by the military administration of Gen Yakubu Gowon. Yes, we know the vision of the scheme is to foster national unity and even development. Yes, we know, NYSC is to be at the forefront of national development efforts, as well as serve as a profitable platform for imparting in our youth’s values of nationalism, patriotism, loyalty, and accountable leadership. Yes, we know the core objectives of the scheme include discipline, fostering the tradition of work, teaching ideals of national development, developing skills for self-employment, removing prejudices, eliminating ignorance and promoting national integration. But however, It frustrates me that many corps members have lost their lives in unexplainable circumstances. These youngsters are dying at an alarming rate and there are no reliable statistics on the number of deaths. While some die at orientation camps, others are killed at their places of primary assignment. Consequently, the scheme, which used to be fun at the beginning, is now a nightmare. Sadly, In the last 20 years, corps members have been victims of election violence, kidnapping, abduction by terrorist groups and rape, with many being killed while serving their fatherland.
Today, it comes in hangdog that the dimension to corps members safety and security threat has manifested mainly in the areas of political threats, Boko Haram terror attacks, hostage taking, geographical threats, and deplorable Nigerian roads. Okafor Chukwuemeka and Ani JohnMary in their article highlighted the details into some of these security challenges. In a 2011 story published by the Nation newspaper, it reminded us of how political instability threatened NYSC and the corps members. Of the election of President Goodluck Jonathan into office in 2011 triggered the flame of political violence in Northern Nigeria, which led to the killing of a number of corps members. There, Peter Awelewa, the Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West (Anglican Communion) while reacting to then killing of corps members stated that “going by this latest development, it is becoming clear that the North believes that rulers of Nigeria must forever come from among them, while other Nigerians are expected to remain as servants or second class citizens within Nigeria, which rightly belongs to all of us.” True, the post-presidential election violence was unfortunate and condemnable. It was a sad signal that rather than improve on their attitude over elections. politicians are still desperate, their supporters even more so.
Again, down in the mouth, we are also not ignorant of the Boko Haram sect and their activities, backed by their bomb-blast terrorism in Northern Nigeria has practically planted the psychology of fear among parents and Nigerian graduates that are waiting for NYSC deployment. You remember that despite the killing of hundreds of people in Borno state by the outlawed Boko Haram sect, the NYSC deployed 820 corps members to the state that year, after an orientation programme held in Gombe at a time. You remember when the media were agog with news of the bombing of the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Maiduguri by the Boko Haram sect. You also remember that after the presidential election, the Boko Haram sect struck and killed many Nigerians including corps members. You remember how the federal government promised to present five million naira to families of those who lost their lives at the blast. There was also promise of jobs to the other affected corps members immediately after the mandatory one year service the nation. Years later, do you know that the jobs are still in a shelf and most of the affected graduates roam the streets looking for jobs. The thousands of university graduates that are produced annually often keep their knees on ground as they continually pray for the hands of providence to ensure that they are not posted to the terror-overtaken states in the North East. It is part of the Nigerian history that thousands of NYSC members posted to different parts of the North have re-deployed to other states, where the wind of safety is higher in order to ensure that they finish their NYSC programme safely.
Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review recorded the dimension of hostage crises as a threat. Of how the first to disappear was Mr. Bukari I. Bambur, a corps member from North Central State, deployed to Lagos. This was extremely embarrassing to the Directorate as the press gave the case a lot of publicity and the Police Force seemed helpless. Do you also remember the dastardly act of abduction and raping to death of a female corps member, Grace Adie Ushamg serving in Maiduguri, Borno State capital on 26th September, 2009 for the single offence of wearing khaki trouser forced the media as well as the national assembly to join parents in the debate on the NYSC and security question; what should constitute its nature as well as the implementation process in order to ensure the safety of corps members.
Ogbu, R. reported in 2013 how three corps members; Ogechi Martins, Chijioke Richard and Esther Nwachukwu were kidnapped from the Ogonokom Corper’ Lodge in Rivers State, ooops, you know the reason why i didn’t stay in Rivers? Yes, they were released after ten days in captivity. Similarly, the Corps members that served in Ogun State in 2012 were advised not to put on their NYSC uniform while travelling back home. Imagine that? “Why are they serving gaaan?”
We won’t also forget how Ani and Okafor made reference to how five corps members, who donated a library project to a school in Omademe community in Nkwere Local Government Area of Rivers State were abducted while returning from the inspection of the project. The corps members were driving in their colleague’s car when the incident occurred. They included four ladies and a male. It would be recalled that a similar incident occurred in Rivers State in 2010. It took the intervention of the army and other security forces to secure the release of the five corps members that were abducted and moved to a community in Abia State.
Today, today, today, It is no longer folktales but an existential reality that some parents prevent their children going for national service in volatile parts of the country just to ensure that they don’t lose them to the disciples of death, found in many parts of Nigeria today. Tell me, where is not even volatile in Nigeria? Aso rock? This is because in an increasingly dangerous national space, preferential posting is the sensible thing for parents to opt for. Wanting your ward to serve in a safe place is enlightened self-interest. Those who insist that their wards be posted to safe places are not less patriotic than those who have left the fate of their wards in the hands of the NYSC, only to be greeted with returning coffins a few months into the scheme. It would be recalled that the killing of corps members in some states are still fresh in the minds of Nigerians, coupled with the escalating attacks by Islamists terrorist group, Boko Haram.
True, no wonder, Ibrahim Ajide, a graphic designer, who was interviewed by Businessday says NYSC should not continue if the government cannot fix insecurity. “Nigeria is in the most divisible state that it has ever been and the state of insecurity is too much. Why post a candidate to where you know there is insecurity that even to travel there is very risky so why do that? If it cannot be scrapped then it should be paused till further notice, till the government can fix the insecurity,” he said.
But the parents are not just watching again. As reported by businessday, again, Harrison Nwandu, a successful entrepreneur, had long ago stopped his children from participating in the NYSC programme. “The only reason to participate is to get discharge certificate, usually asked by employers of labour. But I am the one employing my children and I don’t need the certificate”, the church elder said. According to him, two of his children schooled abroad and are working over there without doing the NYSC, while the other two are working in his companies in Lagos and Port Harcourt. “I will not allow my children to die serving their fatherland, nobody will grieve with me over their death, and government does not care either”, Nwandu said.
Citing a statement issued by Abosede Aderibigbe, head of Press and Public Relations Unit in the NYSC Headquarters, Ojei said if NYSC is advising returning corps members not to travel wearing their uniforms, it means parents should do more by stopping their children if possible as corps members have become targets of abductors and terrorists in recent time. “Sadly, the elites’ children and NYSC staff children do not serve, they stay in the comfort of their homes or abroad, while their discharge certificates will be sent to them. Then, is it my child that is good to die?” the aggrieved lawyer said.
BusinessDay SUNDAY findings also indicated that many parents have refused to release their children for the service, saying that they would rather miss the service than go to a state where there is bombing and killing every day. Friday Omodiagbe says the one year spent during the NYSC was a waste of time for him. He said that most of the time, if graduates survive and escape death after service, they end up in the unemployment market which is already saturated. “For me, the compulsory one year service is nothing but punishment. During my time in Yobe State in 2011, my orientation camp had dirty environment and the food was nothing to write home about. To make matter worse, after the orientation camp, I was unlucky to be posted to a community without electricity and good water,” Omodiagbe said.
Again, Stella Okoye, who was posted to Katsina State for her service, said she is already making plans to seek redeployment to a safer state to carry out the NYSC programme. Okoye said she would make effort to stay for the three weeks to complete the orientation camp before redeploying because of the insecurity in the North. “Most northern states have become a hotbed of banditry and kidnapping as bandits now go into houses to kidnap people in broad daylight,” she said. Like the prospective corps members, parents and friends of those mobilised to the northern part of the country have also expressed concerns over the safety of their children and wards.
Corps members also suffer greatly in the hands of poor and bad road network. Obviously, transportation safety implies the prevention of accidents and the minimization of accident losses. As country becomes more mobile, the possibility of accidents resulting in the death of corp members and the destruction of property on our highway becomes more of a critical factor. The consequences of accidents on our roads are immense. Accidents cause significant losses to present and future productive manpower of our country, as well as, in many cases, profound social problems, deaths or serious injury. Corps members are dieing daily on poor Nigerian roads, and no remedy to sort it out.
On the other side, NYSC is not a bad scheme, it is one of the most potentially oriented scheme that can grow unity and growth in Nigeria. Hence, going by the Guardian newspaper that reported a public analyst, Uche Okosun, who said that the scheme was a noble idea at conception and the ideal is worth preserving. However, he said even before the current security threats, the scheme had been plagued by instances of corruption and abuse by organisations and individuals, including corps members through forgery, indiscipline, immoral acts and truancy at locations of primary assignments.
Whatever hiccups have attended its operation over the years, the NYSC scheme has contributed to nation-building, by means of soft power as opposed to structural acts of statecraft, such as legislation, affirmative action in appointments and student admissions as well as the strategic location of industries. “The scheme has forged bonds through live experiences of corps members; several of whom got married during or through their service year, learnt new languages and cultures, and even got permanent employment in states where they served. It has also provided temporary employment to graduates of tertiary institutions at least for a year after graduation. The experience prepared them for lifetime careers, enables them to acquire skills and enlarge their social networks.”
There is increasing need for progressive re-organization of the NYSC in this era multiple security crisis. This is because without the NYSC discharge certificate, the time spent in the university and polytechnic would have been wasted so to say, as nobody would offer a Nigerian graduate a public job without principally requesting for the NYSC certificate. Ironically, it is a popular statement that those NYSC members who have lost their lives to one form of security threat or another are rooted on the fact that they have no option. Unfortunately, as the growing harvest of deaths in national service has become, it should be re-stated that self-preservation is the first law of nature.
Like scholars suggest, States and services that really require corps members should formally make requisition for them and be ready to enter written undertakings to protect and meaningfully engage these personnel. Also, Increasing insecurity in the land dictates that states take out substantial insurance coverage for corps members they request. This is because, having observed the menace of Boko Haram, kidnapping and growing political violence in the country, there is no doubt that if nothing is urgently done to stem the tide, the NYSC may soon be a thing of the past. And finally, to the ever diligent director general, Brig. Gen. Shuibu Ibrahim, Nigerians still want to serve their father’s land, but not without peace, so therefore, he should ensure that there’s adequate security for corp members in their different local government, Finally, there is need for corps members to be posted to their different regions of birth, while other forms of policy reforms should follow-suite.
Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun
