Some Prospective Corps Members Who Could Not Meet Their Expectations Evade Service, While Some Of Those Already Serving Abscond From Service, All Of Which Are Infractions Of The Act Setting Up The Service Corps; Proffer Methodology That Will Help To Exterminate Or Curtail Such Acts.

Since inception, the purpose of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme is to prepare young Nigeria graduates for employability through adventure, education, exposure and empowerment for the National interest. However, some prospective corps members whose expectations are, perhaps, not met, dodge service. On another lens, more than a few serving corps members actually make a quick leave in the middle of their service year. These breakouts sum up to the little foxes that threaten the goal of the scheme. But hear the good part!!! This paper is tailored to proffer possible ways to curtail such breakouts to favor corps members for the National interest.

The decree No.15 of the June 16th, 1993 NYSC Act houses the objectives of the NYSC Scheme. Some of which includes, in-part:

• To inculcate discipline in the Nigerian youth by instilling in the tradition of industry at work and loyal service to Nigeria in any situation they may find themselves

• To develop in the Nigerian youth, the attitude of mind, acquired through shared experience and suitable training which will make them more amenable to mobilization in the national interest.

• To enable Nigerian youth, acquire the spirit of self-reliance by encouraging them to develop skills for self-employment

• To expose Nigeria youth to the modes of living of the people of different parts of Nigeria, among others.

All these objectives align in favor of prospective corps members and serving corps members alike. However, it does not seem to go well as expected. This is possibly because some prospective corps members either choose to postpone service, get exemption letters, make excuses for the sake of relocation or cut their service year short. These cases are not without cause or reason.

But then, I stand with Betty Williams’ saying that; “there is no use talking about the problem unless you talk about the solution”

So let’s talk about the solution.

Possible ways to curtail service evasion and getaways among corps members:

Enhance service experience of corps members:

Any establishment with poor user experience shouldn’t expect excellent feedback. In the case of prospective corps members who are already doing well for themselves before graduation, they expect more from the NYSC scheme other than being a school teacher in a rural community. Take for example, a graduate of computer science who is already grounded in data engineering and earning big in his skill, going for a one-year national service only to work as an office assistant in one of the government ministries and doing absolutely nothing. These experiences don’t sound too pleasing and alluring to a graduate of skill and industry

The scope of experience of the NYSC Scheme should be reviewed to accommodate very relevant skills for millennials because times are eras have changed hands.

Expand the scope of Community Development Service:

The current scope of the community development service arm of the NYSC limits corps members to certain projects. One major reason for this limitation is funding. However, if the intention of the CDS is truly well meaning, then the scope of community development service should allow for partnership. Although a national scheme, the NYSC community development service should allow for partnership and fund raising from international non-governmental organizations, and national parastatals who have corresponding interests in some of the living conditions that corps members try to salvage.

Such interventions will liven the engagement of corps members and kick-start the spirit of loyalty and humanity among serving corps members.

Make Service allowances and remuneration attractive:

One of the major reasons why service evasion and getaways are very rampant is because the service allowance is too poor to sustain a corps member for a month. This, in a relatable illustration means that a corps member in Nigeria cannot afford a bag of rice with his monthly allowance. Give or take, a school leaver who earns more than the service corps allowance will most likely forfeit service or perhaps postpone it.

The remuneration of the service corps lacks attractive perks that can keep an industrious undergraduate. Some which might include professional and specialized schools for each of the disciplines studied. Just like we have law schools and medical schools, there should be professional sessions to prepare graduates for at least one-year full time experience in the industry because these are what employers require for entry level employment.

These in addition to improving the infrastructures at the orientation camps across the nation and reviewing the deployment strategies are some possible ways to curtail service evasion and getaways among corps members.

WRITTEN BY: Adikwu Daniel