The Lamentation of an NYSC Member
What do we do? Is there possibility of free and fair? Every one raises an eyebrow, over what? A situation that is overlooked! I cannot help but cry for my nation. What a nation! I sleep and wake with the thought of how to make it better, free from all manners of catastrophe. But can I do it alone? How can me when even those that are supposed to lead for an onward match to sensitization and success are nowhere to be found. You deny your subjects their right, making unfulfilled promises year in year out. When can we truly realize these? I ask. Imagine a society free from social crisis. Whereby meaningful employment is made available at all levels both for graduates and non graduates. Providing food for all, especially for the poor, less privileged, handicapped and the destitute as well.
A stable and reasonable transport system,
Good roads maintenance, proper and effective education at all levels with sound practicability.
I cannot imagine myself in an island as an islander to make me understand no man is an island, yet you make me an island. What a contradiction.
I put it to you even if we are called to serve it does not in any way make you have the right to use and dump us, leaving us to our own fate. It indeed turns out fruitless.
Imagine a world whereby everybody is a master, what would be our fate? A question you need to answer.
Whether I am compelled or not to serve you, I shall serve you. Does that make me less human? No! Yet you make me and my entourages feel so bad.
You deny us the comfort that belongs to us. No accommodation, yet you call us a national/federal figure, when we are not the partakers of the national cake? We do not ask for much, a little accommodation, meaningful employment and all that need to be allocated to us just like you get your allocation allocated to us.
The truth of this matter is that there is the possibility of a free and fair positive change in our nation, Nigeria.
When you know your onions, dot your i’s and cross your t’s, you came across as a leader and reconsider the considerate, take proper actions, then we can boast of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and not “National Yeye Service Corp (NYSC)” carrying out their duties with every credibility.
Nigerians, we are the genesis of our problems:
Stop the marginalization; refuse to be corrupted, so there can be true fairness, for a positive change. Brace up and be liberated or remain a second class citizen.
This is what you need to do. Play your roles with all diligence and credibility, so that we can have a better Nigeria, free from all manner of unnecessary liabilities.
May God help us.
~ By Geraldine Ijeoma AlozieAbout the
National Youth Service Corps
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE NYSCThe NYSC scheme was created in a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war. The unfortunate antecedents in our national history gave impetus to the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps by decree No.24 of 22nd May 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".
As a developing country. Nigeria is further plagued by the problems attendant upon a condition of under development, namely; poverty. mass illiteracy, acute shortage of high skilled manpower (coupled with most uneven distribution of the skilled people that are available), woefully inadequate socioeconomic infrastructural facilities, housing. Water and sewage facilities, road, health care services, and effective communication system. . Faced with these almost intractable problems, which were further compounded by the burden of reconstruction after the civil war, the government and people of Nigeria set for the country, fresh goals, and objectives aimed at establishing Nigeria as:
(a) a united, strong and self reliant nation:
(b) a great and dynamic economy;
(c) a land of bright and full opportunities for all citizens; and
(d) a free and democratic society.
