THERE IS NO INTENTION TO MAKE NYSC VOLUNTARY, ACCORDING TO FG

The mandated one-year NYSC program will not be made voluntary, according to Sunday Dare, minister of sports and youth development.

On Tuesday in Abuja, he made this statement during the 14th iteration of the President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023).

He claimed that the necessity to foster national unity was the driving force behind the scheme’s creation in 1973.

The youth of any country, according to Dare, are its lifeblood. He continued, “Once you grab their patriotism, that may spread cross.

The reasoning for Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s creation of the NYSC is still valid today since every nation, including Nigeria, continues to work daily to promote its unity in diversity.

“With all the testimony, no one will subscribe to scrapping or even making the scheme optional,” he said, adding that a committee to organize the NYSC at 50 celebration in May 2023 would be established on Wednesday.

He clarified that the program was eager to implement some changes that would further enhance it.

“Reform is an ongoing process,” he continued, “the NYSC is looking at some changes, we had issues with people in the diaspora, and there have been issues with some areas of whether you can serve or not.

The NYSC is making an effort to make sure that the laws’ flaws are fixed.

There is a reliable data base that can tell whether a graduate’s certificate is a fake or not.

He commented on Brig-Gen. Muhammad Fadah’s recent dismissal as the scheme’s director-general by saying that it was crucial for Nigerian youth.

He claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari will not permit anything to undermine the plan.