Development and Social Welfare Programmes in Nigeria
Development and Social Welfare Programmes in Nigeria******
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
Historical Background
The National Youth Service Corps is a scheme set up by the Nigerian government to involve the country 's graduate – youth, in the development of the country. It is an organization that was established to ensure improved ties among the Nigerian people through her beloved youth, following the unfortunate event of the Civil War (July 1967 – 15 January 1970).
General Yakubu Gowon’s administration established the NYSC scheme by decree No 24 of May 22, 1973 which stated that the,
"NYSC is being established with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity".
The bloody Civil War emerged from disunity, misunderstanding and cultural differences of Nigerians. At the end of the Civil War, the Gowon administration announced a national programme of the 3Rs -Rehabilitation, Re-construction and Reconciliation. The necessary machinery – including the NYSC scheme – was put in place for the actualization of the programme.
In spite of its seemingly laudable aims, the historic initiative was frowned at, in several quarters, and greeted with widespread criticism as the military government had failed to properly express its intentions, or probably because Nigerians were simply impatient with, and cynical of government motives. The most violent opposition against the programme came from students whose grouse was identified in four critical points;
1. Participation in the scheme would delay the entry of the new graduates into the labour market by a year, thereby unduly punishing parents who had invested heavily in the education of their children and look forward to reaping the benefits as soon as possible. They further argued that to reduce this effect, the introduction of free university education programme should have been set up and running before the establishment of the NYSC.
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
Historical Background
The National Youth Service Corps is a scheme set up by the Nigerian government to involve the country 's graduate – youth, in the development of the country. It is an organization that was established to ensure improved ties among the Nigerian people through her beloved youth, following the unfortunate event of the Civil War (July 1967 – 15 January 1970).
General Yakubu Gowon’s administration established the NYSC scheme by decree No 24 of May 22, 1973 which stated that the,
"NYSC is being established with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity".
The bloody Civil War emerged from disunity, misunderstanding and cultural differences of Nigerians. At the end of the Civil War, the Gowon administration announced a national programme of the 3Rs -Rehabilitation, Re-construction and Reconciliation. The necessary machinery – including the NYSC scheme – was put in place for the actualization of the programme.
In spite of its seemingly laudable aims, the historic initiative was frowned at, in several quarters, and greeted with widespread criticism as the military government had failed to properly express its intentions, or probably because Nigerians were simply impatient with, and cynical of government motives. The most violent opposition against the programme came from students whose grouse was identified in four critical points;
1. Participation in the scheme would delay the entry of the new graduates into the labour market by a year, thereby unduly punishing parents who had invested heavily in the education of their children and look forward to reaping the benefits as soon as possible. They further argued that to reduce this effect, the introduction of free university education programme should have been set up and running before the establishment of the NYSC.
References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Orientation_Agency_(Nigeria) http://www.onlinenigeria.com/links/NYSCadv.asp?blurb=400 http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/08/x-raying-national-orientation-agency-20-years-after/ THE ROLE OF NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY IN MANAGING NIGERIA 'S PLURALISM IN ETHNO-RELIGIOUS CRISES … NOA PUBLICATION…. 2011 http://www.nysc.gov.ng/about/objectives.php http://www.noa.gov.ng/index.php/about-us#sthash.yGwCCFJ2.dpuf http://www.muslimcorpers.org/page/nysc-scheme-historical-background