CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF NATIONAL YOUTHS SERVICE CORPS TOWARDS ENHANCING NATIONAL INTEGRATION (A CASE STUDY OF ANAMBRA STATE)
In order to carry out this research work effectively, investigations were made into related work done on this topic. Although not much has been written on this topic, however, there are related works done by some indigenous and foreign authors which are somehow related to this problem. The information gathered are grouped under the following sub-headings.
- NYSC as a means of practical on-the-job training and orientation.
- NYSC as a means of providing indigenous manpower needed.
- NYSC and graduates experiment in national integration.
2.1 MEANING OF NYSC
“NYSC” categorically means the National Youth Service Corps scheme it is the only means in which graduates can obtained the best orientation and integration ahead of challenges they are likely to face after graduation.
This experience receive will help to promote National Integration and equally reduces the incessant ethnic diversity. The National Youth Service Corps is very important to every graduates of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education both federal and states to enables the graduates to get and acquire more practical and gainful admission into labour market.
2.2 ORIGIN OF NYSC IN NIGERIA
NYSC was basically introduced by the then Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon in May 1973 about 37 years ago. Today it has developed and covered many disciplines and become a necessary pre-requisite or pre-condition for all graduates before admitting into labour force. The scheme as has been improved has the inculcation of discipline in our Youths by instilling in them of tradition of industriousness and dedication and of patriotic and loyal service to the nation in any situation in which they may find themselves. The programmes has various orientation camp throughout the whole state in Nigeria.
2.3 NYSC AS A MEANS OF PRACTICAL ON THE JOB TRAINING AND ORIENTATION
According to Okoye and Anona, (2001), emphasizes that as the world is fast advancing in population, science and technology and industrialization. Nigeria cannot be left out in this jet age endeavour. They stressed that acquisition of various social life of diverse people will in no doubt the key to National integration which will promote industrialization since we cannot give what we do not possess. National Youth Service Corps is one of the programme designed by federal government as an aid to accelerates our pace of industrialization and National integration level.
Agbenwoho, (2003), in his book titled “Orientation for Industries” revealed that the scheme known as NYSC offers the opportunity for the graduates to utilize some of their academic knowledge and orientation in a real life and the challenges they are likely to face in industries and ministries were they will find themselves. The NYSC helps to graduates of various races to socially, morally and academically integrated into national growth based on what they are taught in the school which is based on theoretical pattern.
Okoye and Anona in their adaptation of training and orientation stated that considering the essence of the state, Anambra State in Nigeria in participating in the scheme, one of the critical assessment is to prepare the particiting graduates of the accelerating manpower, which changes the needs and boarding aspiration of mankind, Anambra State accepts and handle these graduates deployed to them and expose them to the practice of the establishment of the same worthwhile until they are able to improve on the capability of the practical workforce to enable them practice and performance effectively. For instance, the role of cropers in the research and development in the solution of societal problem which could be seen in the area of National and Community Development.
2.4 NYSC AS A MEANS OF PROVING INDIGENOUS MANPOWER NEEDED
According to adaptation of Training and Orientation by Okoye and Anona (2002), Foreign Exchange Market (FEM) and Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAP) by the then administration has made the amount of imported finished products to reduced greatly and their prices have become very prohibitive. The Nigeria graduates under this circumstances are trained and equally integrated to full those vacuum. The orientation and integration gained through NYSC has help a lot of graduates to be self employed on both small and medium enterprises and this also help to reduce the problems of unemployment that faces the country today. Also, it was observed by the then head of state General Yakubu Gowon that proper training and orientation of graduates helps in supplying the nation the much needed skilled and trained manpower. The country human resources can thus be improved through purposeful and result-oriented education and integration. NYSC programmes basically has prepares graduates for the task ahead which gives room for innovation and enhance process of manpower development. The NYSC scheme aims at the promotion and encouragement of skilled in industries with a view of generating a pool of indigenous trained manpower sufficient to meet the needs of the country’s economy.
2.5 NYSC AND GRADUATES EXPERIMENT IN NATIONAL INTEGRATION
According to professor Ikejiani Clark in her convocation lectures in Anambra State University Uli, (2008) she stressed that one of the main aim of General Yakubu Gowon in establishing the NYSC programmes is to settle the scores recorded during and after the civil war. Nigeria which is made up of multiple ethnic races began to see each other as his or her arch enemy. And that leaning your state of origin to settle in another is no longer safe. In the Easter Region, the then Col, Odumegwu Ojukwu Clamon for all the eastemers to return to their Easter Zone. So based on thus, Head of State General Gowon, who tagged the war, “No victor, No Vanquish” initiated R3 policies which means Rehabilitation, Reconciliation and Reconstruction. Therefore to reconcile this diversity, NYSC was established so that graduates should serve in another state or zone other than their zone or state. This integration has help to promoted inter tribal marriages, inter states trades, and also inter religious activities as must of these graduates after their service year decides to settle in that particular state. So based on these, the initial aim of reconciling the scores is checkmated and Nigerians began to see themselves as one again. So in these processes, NYSC and graduates has succeeded in ensuring and enhancing National Integration and Development.
2.6 IMPORTANCE OF NYSC
The importance of this scheme NYSC cannot be over emphasized this. It has prepares graduates of higher learning for the work situations that they are likely to meet after their service year.
NYSC has equally helps to expose graduates to various cultures and tradition of the state they are posted for their service.
It gives graduates the opportunity to learn various language that exist in this country thereby helping them to communicate omnivorously.
It also helps graduates to have an insight and have a practical knowledge of what they have been taught in the school.
NYSC helps in no small measure in the improvement of the quality of skilled manpower in Nigeria. It’s equally helps to generate a pool of indigenous trained manpower needed by the country.
Finally, NYSC helps graduates to gain superb insight into industrial or ministerial routine operations.
2.7 SUMMARY TO RELATED LITERATURE
The National Youths Service Corps ensure efficiency in the office operations in the part of the standard of our economy by increasing the quality and quantity of Nigeria graduates through intensive orientation and integration.
NYSC training and orientation by Okoye and Anona (2001:1) points out that this device should therefore be given a maximum attention it deserves. No sacrifice will be deemed too great in order to achieve the much desired National Integration, actualization and glory within a record of time. NYSC is also made to prepare graduates for the work situation they are to meet after graduation and also make the transition from school to world of work easier and enhance graduates contracts for later job placement and promote National Integration Categorically.
BACKGROUND OF NATIONAL YOUTHS SERVICE CORPS TOWARDS NATIONAL INTEGRATION
The aim and purpose of the scheme is priminarily to inculcate in Nigerian Youths the spirit of selfless service to the community, and to emphasize the spirit of ones and brotherhood of all Nigerians, irrespective of cultural or social background. The history of our country since independence has clearly indicated the need for unity amongst all our people, and demonstrated the fact that no cultural or geographical entity can exist in isolation.
MAJOR OBJECTIVE OF SCHEME
The objectives of Nation Youths Service Corps scheme are clearly spelt out in Decree No. 51 of 16th June 1993 as follows,
- To inculcate discipline in Nation Youths by instilling in them a tradition of industry at work, and of patriotic and loyal service to Nigeria in any situation they may find themselves.
- To raise the moral tone of the Nigerian Youths by giving them the opportunity to learn about higher ideals of national achievement, social and cultural improvement.
- To develop in the Nigerians Youths the attitudes of mind, acquired through shared experience and suitable training, which will make them more amendable to mobilization in the national interest.
- To develop common ties among the Nigerian youths and promote national unity and integration.
Moreover, in order to achieve the objective as mentioned above, the service corps shall ensure thus,
- That as far as possible, youths are assigned to jobs in states other than their states of origin.
- That the Nigerians youths are exposed to the modes of living of the people in different parts of Nigeria.
- That such group of youths assigned to work together is representative of Nigeria as far as possible.
- That members of the service corps are encourage to seek at the end of their one year national service, career employment all over Nigeria, thus promoting the free movement of labour.
DEPLOYMENT POLICY
The ultimate objective of the NYSC scheme is to achieve national unity through mobilization of the Youths of this country for service in the NYSC scheme. Corpss members are to be exposed to life in other parts of the country and to learn at first hand the many similarities and diversities of culture and traditions of various groups in the country with a view to eliminating any inherent prejudices etc. Corpss members therefore have no choice as to where they would to like service.
CORPS YEAR PROGRAMME
A typical corps year programme is divided into four phases: thus.
- Orientation programme
- Primary Assignment
iii. Community Development Service (CDS)
- Winding up programme and passing out parade.
