A member of the House of Representatives, Chief Philip Agbese, has urged President Bola Tinubu to halt the implementation of the Federal Government’s proposed reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), warning that some of the changes could weaken the scheme’s original purpose and affect Nigeria’s national security framework.
Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State and serves as the Labour Party leader in the state, made the appeal in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja. He called for the establishment of a broader committee to review the proposals before they are implemented.
A member of the House Committees on Youth and Defence, the lawmaker described the NYSC as a vital national institution that has promoted unity among Nigerians for more than five decades.
“The NYSC is a national institution that has played a critical role in fostering national unity and should not be restructured in a manner that compromises its founding ideals,” he said.
His remarks follow the Federal Government’s announcement of what Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described as the first comprehensive review of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973.
The proposed reforms include splitting the orientation camp into three phases, introducing 11 specialised career streams for prospective corps members, strengthening entrepreneurship and skills acquisition programmes, replacing the traditional khaki uniform with locally produced attire, and appointing a civilian to head the scheme instead of the long-standing practice of military leadership.
While acknowledging the need to modernise the programme, Agbese argued that the reforms must not dilute the NYSC’s core mission of promoting national integration and preparing young Nigerians for service to the country.
“Reducing NYSC to a skill acquisition training centre is not healthy for our national life,” he said.
The Benue lawmaker noted that beyond youth development, the scheme has consistently supported national emergencies by deploying corps members to critical sectors such as education, healthcare, elections and humanitarian interventions.
Agbese also questioned the proposal to appoint a civilian as Director-General of the NYSC, arguing that the military culture embedded in the orientation programme has helped instil discipline, patriotism and national preparedness among participants.
“Instilling military training in citizens is an international practice that must be sustained,” he added.
He urged President Tinubu to constitute an expanded review committee comprising security experts, lawmakers, former NYSC officials, youth organisations and other stakeholders to examine the proposed reforms before any final decision is taken.
Established on May 22, 1973, by the administration of General Yakubu Gowon, the NYSC was created to promote post-Civil War reconciliation, national unity and cultural integration by deploying graduates to states outside their places of origin. Over the years, the scheme has also contributed significantly to education, healthcare, elections and community development across Nigeria.
