The Executive Director of the Center for Responsive Governance has called on the Federal Government to suspend the proposed reforms of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) until extensive public consultations are conducted, warning that the current approach risks undermining the objectives of the scheme.
Speaking on Monday during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, the governance advocate said while reforming the NYSC is necessary, the process being adopted by the government lacks inclusiveness and fails to address the country’s pressing challenges.
According to Ologun, “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”
The Executive Director of the Center for Responsive Governance acknowledged that the National Youth Service Corps requires reforms but argued that the process must be comprehensive and driven by the scheme’s original objectives.
He warned that piecemeal changes and reforms introduced without proper consultation could undermine the programme rather than strengthen it, adding that the current direction of the proposed reforms, if implemented as reported, would fail to address the fundamental issues facing the scheme
“Well, 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, what they had in mind. But sometimes, I wonder what kind of a nation we live in, that when we identify a problem, it takes us so long to address the issues, and when eventually we even choose to address the issues, we don’t address the issue holistically, or the way it should be”
On the issue of implementation, Ologun called for the Federal Government to suspend further action on the proposed reforms until a broad consultative process involving key stakeholders in youth development is concluded.
He maintained that meaningful reforms should emerge from public engagement rather than hurried policy decisions, insisting that there was no urgency that justified bypassing due process.
“There’s nothing to rush about these reforms. The unfortunate thing is that the public office holders are making a rush out of processes, not just the NYSC thing. Different processes because of their personal gains. The same thing applies to the state police. Yes, these are good ideas. Reforming the NYSC is a good idea, but there’s nothing to be in a rush about. Let the proper change be done” he said.
The Executive Director maintained that the government should first engage stakeholders across the country through public hearings before finalising any proposals, arguing that youth-focused organisations, advocacy groups, professionals and development partners possess practical insights that could strengthen the reform process.
He also questioned the emphasis being placed on entrepreneurship in the proposed reforms, noting that several entrepreneurship and business support initiatives are already embedded within the NYSC programme.
“Yeah, that is the problem we have with our people. They seem to even forget things that they are doing by themselves. Has it suddenly become a vague idea that the minister of youth and whoever is sitting on that reform have suddenly forgotten that there are a lot of schemes already introduced into the NYSC scheme?” he said.
Ologun stated that there are already multiple intervention programmes providing corps members with access to grants, loans and business development opportunities.
“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. You can fact check. If we have all those things, even when it comes to business registration, we have the NDE, the National Developmental Enterprise, whatever they call it. We have all of them involved in the NYSC scheme already, whereby as a youth core member, you can have a company registered, you have CGS that are involved in training, in grant giving, in loans, and all that.”
Ologun argued that rather than presenting existing initiatives as new reforms, government should improve and consolidate the programmes already in operation.
“So if we have all of those in the NYSC scheme already, then why are you making a mountain out of a molehill? Why are you making it look like you are introducing anything new? These are things that the federal government has allocated billions of Naira for, and it’s already running. I know people who are beneficiaries. So why are you now making it seem like you are coming up with one new idea, or you are doing something so specific? Why not enhance, harmonize, encourage, and tidy up the existing ones, instead of making it look like you are introducing new ideas, which already are in existence?”
On the proposal to replace military leadership of the NYSC with civilian leadership, the Executive Director described the move as politically motivated and warned that it could weaken one of the scheme’s strongest attributes—discipline.
He further alleged that the current administration appeared to be creating additional political appointments rather than strengthening institutions.
“Look, I can tell you for a fact, and this is a study that I’m part of. I’m part of a thing that they are undergoing. This present administration seems to be looking for every means to create more food for politicians, creating more agencies, creating more avenues whereby politicians can have more appointments.That will not work.” , Ologun stated.
Defending the continued involvement of the military in managing the orientation scheme, he said the camp experience has over the years instilled discipline and responsibility in young graduates.
“Look, one of the things that the NYSC has been able to do over the years is to ensure discipline among young people. Look, no matter how undisciplined you are, when you go to the camp for those three weeks, you take on a new lifestyle. If you don’t wake up to read while you are in school, the trumpet wakes you up every morning at 5 a.m. You know you must have your badge. You know you must be kitted up before 5.30 or 6. You undergo parades. You undergo training. You undergo different things that enhance discipline.”
Ologun further warned that removing the military structure from the scheme could erode the values it has long promoted.
“So now if you are changing leadership to civilian, what discipline are you bringing into the training in the NYSC? One of the things that we have achieved in the NYSC through the military and the paramilitary that are attending them is the issue of discipline.
The Executive Director further argued that replacing the military leadership of the NYSC with civilians could weaken one of the scheme’s most enduring strengths, its ability to instill discipline and prepare young graduates for life beyond the classroom. He warned that removing the military and paramilitary structure would compromise the orientation programme’s core values while creating room for increased political patronage and bureaucratic inefficiency.
“So when you take that away, what is left? You are making a mess of the scheme. You are making a mess of the scheme because the issue of discipline and regimented lifestyle that teaches them that look there is more to life after school should not be discouraged.But now you want to remove anything military, anything paramilitary, then turn it to civilian. So that You know you can have more food for the boys. You will now begin to have committees.And you and I know that any scheme where politicians are the ones that defend the scheme, you know how much resources gets to be wasted in terms of bureaucracy,” he said.