Tuesday, October 28, 2014
KEYE SPEAKS! NYSC N4,000 Registration Fee: Another Anti-Youth Policy
On Monday, October 20, 2014, the House of Representatives Committee on Youth Development endorsed the N4,000 online registration fees for prospective corps members as proposed by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The NYSC management argued that the fees will be used to implement the full computerization of the mobilization process which would ease the rigorous processes involved in the collection of call-up letters. On his own part, the Chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Development, Kamil Akinlabi argued that the fund would be used for the installation of equipment at the NYSC offices nationwide adding that the fund would enable the contractor handling the project to recoup investment within five years.
While this initiative is applaudable, the introduction of registration fee is exploitative and should be rejected by all Nigerian youths and those concerned with youth development in this country.
When I applied for internship in a Non Governmental Organization few years ago, I didn't pay a dime as registration or processing fee. Rather, I was paid modestly for the service I rendered and it offered me the opportunity to learn new things. So why should Nigerian youths be asked to pay a whopping N4,000 to serve their fatherland? This is absolutely outrageous, disgusting and unacceptable!
Certain questions must be asked at this point. Why can't the Federal Government fund this initiative from the national purse? If truly the annual allocation to the NYSC cannot fund it, then the Federal Government should be committed to increasing the budgetary allocation to the body to make it self-sufficient without having to exploit Nigerian youths for the further enrichment of some private profiteers under the guise of a build, operate and transfer arrangement that would leave prospective corps members coughing out thousands of Naira while the faces behind the scam smile to the bank.
In the event that the Federal Government sees this initiative as unprofitable and too trivial to warrant it's attention, the NYSC can explore it's relationship with private firms and multinationals to get them to fund it in return for free advertisement space on and off the registration web page.
With the approval of this fee by the House of Representatives, it is obvious that the ruling elites regardless of their political affiliations agree on nothing but further infliction of hardship on the already impoverished and oppressed Nigerian youths.
Many of those who fought their way through tertiary education aside trying hard to find gainful employments after graduating, will now be confronted with the challenge of raising N4,000 for an opportunity to serve their fatherland. With this new fee policy, government will be sounding it loud and clear that service to fatherland is now based on one's ability to pay which in a way defeats the purpose for which the scheme was created.
General Yakubu Gowon created the scheme in 1973 in a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war. The purpose of the scheme is primarily to inculcate in Nigerian youths the spirit of selfless service to the community, and to emphasize the spirit of oneness and brotherhood of all Nigerians, irrespective of cultural or social background. To a large extent, the scheme has been able to accomplish this purpose. And that is why I have never supported several calls for it's abolition by some disgruntled elements on the ground that it has outlived it's existence. The contribution of corps members to community development and rural integration cannot be overemphasized. They have over the years filled the obviously wide labour gaps existing in the key sectors of the economy, particularly the education and health sector.
At a recent youth parley on "youth participation in elections" organized by the Carrington Youth Fellowship of the United States Consulate General, Lagos, the INEC official in attendance applauded the significant role played by corps members in the promotion of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
It is expected that given this significant role, government would take more interest in improving the welfare and allowances of corps members and not impose any outrageous fee on them.
Although, the Director of NYSC Corps Mobilization, Mr. Anthony Ani has said that the online registration is optional for people who still want to be traveling long distances to schools where they graduated to get their call-up letters, the House of Representatives has directed NYSC management to suspend forthwith the policy requiring prospective Corp members to pay the sum of N4,000 with effect from 2015 to access their call up letters.
The change we seek is a government that will prioritize the needs and aspirations of her youths and incorporate their demands into national policies and budget; a government that will hearken to the yearnings of her youths and commit resources to addressing them.
This new anti-youth policy is one policy that should not live to see another day.
EWEBIYI KEYE JAMES
Social Media Consultant and Youth Activist
07064981943
Keyeewebiyi@yahoo.com
@Keyestine
The NYSC management argued that the fees will be used to implement the full computerization of the mobilization process which would ease the rigorous processes involved in the collection of call-up letters. On his own part, the Chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Development, Kamil Akinlabi argued that the fund would be used for the installation of equipment at the NYSC offices nationwide adding that the fund would enable the contractor handling the project to recoup investment within five years.
While this initiative is applaudable, the introduction of registration fee is exploitative and should be rejected by all Nigerian youths and those concerned with youth development in this country.
When I applied for internship in a Non Governmental Organization few years ago, I didn't pay a dime as registration or processing fee. Rather, I was paid modestly for the service I rendered and it offered me the opportunity to learn new things. So why should Nigerian youths be asked to pay a whopping N4,000 to serve their fatherland? This is absolutely outrageous, disgusting and unacceptable!
Certain questions must be asked at this point. Why can't the Federal Government fund this initiative from the national purse? If truly the annual allocation to the NYSC cannot fund it, then the Federal Government should be committed to increasing the budgetary allocation to the body to make it self-sufficient without having to exploit Nigerian youths for the further enrichment of some private profiteers under the guise of a build, operate and transfer arrangement that would leave prospective corps members coughing out thousands of Naira while the faces behind the scam smile to the bank.
In the event that the Federal Government sees this initiative as unprofitable and too trivial to warrant it's attention, the NYSC can explore it's relationship with private firms and multinationals to get them to fund it in return for free advertisement space on and off the registration web page.
With the approval of this fee by the House of Representatives, it is obvious that the ruling elites regardless of their political affiliations agree on nothing but further infliction of hardship on the already impoverished and oppressed Nigerian youths.
Many of those who fought their way through tertiary education aside trying hard to find gainful employments after graduating, will now be confronted with the challenge of raising N4,000 for an opportunity to serve their fatherland. With this new fee policy, government will be sounding it loud and clear that service to fatherland is now based on one's ability to pay which in a way defeats the purpose for which the scheme was created.
General Yakubu Gowon created the scheme in 1973 in a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war. The purpose of the scheme is primarily to inculcate in Nigerian youths the spirit of selfless service to the community, and to emphasize the spirit of oneness and brotherhood of all Nigerians, irrespective of cultural or social background. To a large extent, the scheme has been able to accomplish this purpose. And that is why I have never supported several calls for it's abolition by some disgruntled elements on the ground that it has outlived it's existence. The contribution of corps members to community development and rural integration cannot be overemphasized. They have over the years filled the obviously wide labour gaps existing in the key sectors of the economy, particularly the education and health sector.
At a recent youth parley on "youth participation in elections" organized by the Carrington Youth Fellowship of the United States Consulate General, Lagos, the INEC official in attendance applauded the significant role played by corps members in the promotion of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
It is expected that given this significant role, government would take more interest in improving the welfare and allowances of corps members and not impose any outrageous fee on them.
Although, the Director of NYSC Corps Mobilization, Mr. Anthony Ani has said that the online registration is optional for people who still want to be traveling long distances to schools where they graduated to get their call-up letters, the House of Representatives has directed NYSC management to suspend forthwith the policy requiring prospective Corp members to pay the sum of N4,000 with effect from 2015 to access their call up letters.
The change we seek is a government that will prioritize the needs and aspirations of her youths and incorporate their demands into national policies and budget; a government that will hearken to the yearnings of her youths and commit resources to addressing them.
This new anti-youth policy is one policy that should not live to see another day.
EWEBIYI KEYE JAMES
Social Media Consultant and Youth Activist
07064981943
Keyeewebiyi@yahoo.com
@Keyestine
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