IN 1973, the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, in an attempt to quench the ill-feelings orchestrated by the Nigerian Civil War which was caused by a mix of ethnic tensions, political suspicions stemming from British colonial policies, economic inequality and a plethora of mindless coup and counter coups with a growing deluge of marginalisation coupled with the inability to coexist, the Eastern region declared the State of Biafra which birthed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme to arrest and address misgivings with the component of reconciliation.
Yakubu Gowon in his wisdom instituted the NYSC scheme with the aim to buttress the No Victor, No Vanquished cliché. It was also intended to foster national unity and integration after the unpalatable experiences of the Biafra civil war of 1967 to 1970. The purpose of the scheme was to serve as a vehicle to heal the Nation by introducing the upcoming generation from different ethnic groups to live, work and rebuild perceived misgivings in States other than their own in an effort to broadcast the principle of the three R’s of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The three R’s policy was enunciated by General Yakubu Gowon’s government with the sole purpose of reintegrating the secessionist Biafra into Nigeria and provide all citizenry a platform to actualize dreams and aspirations.
The NYSC scheme was also designed for young graduates who after acquiring some appreciable level of critical and analytical reasoning capacity can promote national unity, reconciliation and integration having been exposed to cultures other than theirs to break down ethnic prejudices.
Since the intention of the scheme is open to alteration with the rising cases of insecurities engulfing the Country, our Leaders should rethink the vision of the scheme to address prevalent acts of banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, abduction and other forms of criminality on the rampage in our communities and ravaging the populace mercilessly.
A cue can be taken from Countries like Russia, where the Law provides for military service for a period of twelve months for able-bodied men aged 18 to 27, South Korea and North Korea due to the hostilities brewing among them, North Korea pursues a military first policy known as “songun” where graduates are made to join the service at age 17 to 18, while in South Korea men are to serve either in the army for twenty – one months, navy for twenty – three months or the Air force for twenty – four months.
In Israel the Nineteen Forty – nine, Israeli security service Law made military service compulsory for all Israeli’s who turn eighteen except for the ultra- orthodox and Arab Israeli’s. Article One hundred and forty – three of the Federal Republic of Brazil’s Constitution makes military service mandatory for every male Brazilian, while the Constitution of Iran makes military service compulsory for all men over eighteen years for a period of eighteen to twenty – four months.
Other Countries like Turkey, Cuba, Switzerland, Eritrea and Sweden military service is compulsory for men starting at the age of twenty and voluntary for women but with modern day realities women are enlisted for military service to defend the territorial integrity of their Country.
These Countries have adopted a compulsory military service for national security to ensure a sufficient supply of trained personnel in an emergency, as a form of deterrence against potential aggressors and mandatory service guarantees a large pool of trained citizens who can be mobilized in times of war or national disaster without having to depend on volunteers, while on the social plane it promotes national unity, develops discipline and skills, encourages civic responsibility and promotes equality.
The Maitatsine uprisings of 1980-1985 was the first major manifestation of Islamic fundamentalism in Nigeria which built on the precedent established by the Shiite movement in the late seventies and eighties.
Gravitating to present day Nigeria, unpleasant incidences abound like the Boko Haram, ISWAP, Lakurawa and others of their kind.
These uprisings pose great existential danger to our Country, resulting in the maiming, massacre of fellow citizens, communities ransacked with enterprises obliterated.
The time to act decisively is now, to rethink and rejig the NYSC scheme from its casual, languid, lethargic and unenthusiastic posture to a solvent, formidable, anticipatory and intimidating force with menacing venom to complement conventional security agencies at rooting out all forms of Boko Haram and its accomplices.
To reinvent the National Youths Service Corps scheme is to equip young graduate Nigerians with tactical skills, intelligence gathering mechanisms coupled with the Eskimo adaptability to harsh weather conditions in tandem with the Corps Anthem “Youths obey the clarion call. Let us lift our nation high. Under the sun or in the rain. With dedication and selflessness”
This is the time to act the letter and spirit of the NYSC Anthem to avail corps members with requisite training model available for short service entrants to the Nigeria Defence Academy to defend the nation against irredentist forces, belligerent and bellicose coalitions.
Mr Tiav, a broadcast journalist and public affairs commentator, writes from Makurdi, Benue State capital.
