NYSC: The Scheme Revolution

Every year we graduate the future leaders from our tertiary institutions, Every year we send them on a mandate to serve their mother land. But what does all this really mean to the country at the end of it all ? or what does it really mean to the individual? Is it in all sincerity relevant to both the Nation and the individual? Does it still fullfill its purpose? Or is it just another scheme to siphoning the finances of the country towards an unworthy cause?

So many questions to ask regarding this, and of course so many views if put in a debate. But one thing is certain and unarguable, For the past 3-4 years in Nigeria the NYSC scheme has shown to be life costing instead of filled with learning and cultural experiences.

We all know that at the moment, almost everyone is upset at the spate of avoidable deaths of youth corps members across the country. From natural disasters, to rape, and to murder, ethno-religious crisis to post-elections violence, these young men and women serving their country find themselves easy targets to be killed.

As a country we have sobered for families who have lost their loved ones as they strove to fulfill the mandate(NYSC) of society upon them but for the families themselves, their lives will never be the same. It will be one full of anger and hatred. A live now filled with no trust for the government and their killer mandate. Families of various victims of this none- insured government for-saken  scheme called NYSC, see the promised compensation of the government as not adequate enough to relieve or condole the pain been induced upon them by the tradegy.

I agree with these families. Their deaths should not be in vain – it should lead a fundamental change in the way that the youth corps scheme is implemented.

The Future Project (which runs The Future Awards), in partnership with the National Youth Council, AIESEC, SleevesUp Nigeria and Friends of Aik and Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, has decided to take up this cause.
We are aware that many initiatives have been undertaken in the past – but we believe it is time to move from anger and protest and to make this a broad-based national campaign. It is also a fine opportunity for us to put our hard won democracy to work – to move from protest and activism to advocacy and productive democratic lobby.

SO, over the next nine-months, we are implementing a solution-oriented approach that involves; 1) Engaging government on a policy level to restructure and reform the NYSC in order to protect corps members in the interim and then to completely overhaul the scheme in the long term so that it is actually useful to the nation. 2) Supporting this Policy Engagement with a wide-ranging public and media campaign to ensure pressure is sustained on the government.

We are activating a #ProtectTheCorpers campaign that will involve both online and offline strategies to engage the authorities, the media and young people.

The strategy is simple –

1)      We are gathering 100, 000 signatures for a petition that is going to the Presidency with a 7-point demand (see demand below) to restructure the scheme and protect the corps members.

2)      Request an urgent meeting with the Minister of Youth and the Director-General of the NYSC to implement immediate action points.

3)      Begin an aggressive lobby at the legislature, especially the Senate and House Committees on Youth, towards include the deletion of the programme from the section of the Constitution and placing it as an Act of Parliament with a revamped structure, as recommended by the Senate Spokesperson, Ike
Ekweremadu.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

1)      Read the demands below and sign the petition on www.thefuturenigeria.com/protectthecorpers – and get at least 20 of your friends, family and associates to sign the petition.

2)      If you have any direct influence with any legislator who can help with introducing and facilitating this bill, please get in contact with us at info@thefuturenigeria.com.

3)      **Use the #ProtectTheCorpers Hashtag on your Twitter and Facebook Accounts Daily, Use the Avatar/Display Picture on Your Facebook/Twitter/BBM Accounts and Send this Message To All Your Contacts. *

4)      Support this initiative with resources or donation to sustain the publicity and lobbying drive over the next 9 months (our working time-frame.)

5)      Join the ProtectTheCorpers group on Facebook as well as the ProtectTheCorpers group on Yahoo.

6)      Send us an e-mail on info@thefuturenigeria.com or call us on with any suggestions or how you can or want to help.

7)      Visit www.thefuturenigeria.com/protectthecorpers for more information.

 

Now is the time to act appropriately. Be the change you want to see and the first step to doing that is by being a part of this needed change. No more turning a blind eye to our brothers and sisters, No more turning a blind eye to the needed change in Nigeria, NO MORE TURNING A BLIND EYE TO OUR FUTURE.