- Sweet-sour tales of corp members
By Olajumoke Dorcas Ayobami
Virtually every Nigerian, whether educated or not, can testify that participating in the National Youth Service Corps Scheme is a very honouring juncture for every youth that has completed his/her tertiary education. In many cases, the public can only distinguish a graduate by the mere sight of the NYSC uniform, always worn with so much pride and air of fulfilment. Understandably so, as it is not easy becoming a university graduate in Nigeria, with many of the students spending four or more years on the campus to be eligible and so qualify for employment.
Blessing Anyanwu, 25, now on one-year national service in Kaduna State, told Saturday Sun she enjoyed the experience, especially collecting the Federal Government’s monthly allowance of N19,800 on which she lived. “Serving as a corps member is sweet in the north, especially here in Kaduna, everything is cheap and there’s this respect that comes with putting on the uniform amid a community that is supposed to be strange, but rather welcoming. I have taken a lot of entrepreneurial classes and professional courses that I cannot afford on a normal day, but being a corp member, the bills have been split somehow by the government.”
For another corps member, Motunrayo being on the scheme confers some privilege and consideration from Nigerians including public and security officials that one may not enjoy as an ordinary Nigerian. He buttressed his point with an encounter he had recently. “I was driving back on my way from my Community Development Service (CDS) meeting with my driving instructor by my side when I got pulled over by Road Safety Corps. I wasn’t scared, because I had all my papers complete as a learner. The officers saw me in my uniform. All of a sudden, one of them asked me to get down, so he could explain some of the road and vehicle signs I was confused about. When I got down from my vehicle and passers-by saw me, they started yelling at the officers to let me go, no matter what, because I was serving the country and therefore I could do no wrong. It was a very funny scenario that day as the friendly officers had to let me go, just because of how the citizens were defensive. I was so proud to be serving Nigeria that day,” he said.
The NYSC has existed for 44 years, with Nigerian graduates from all over the world having to enroll in it, as it is a pre-requisite for seeking employment in any organization in Nigeria.
Saturday Sun learnt that placement of some graduates may be delayed owing to over production by some institutions, which may necessitate taking their products in batches. It was learnt that some federal and state institutions produced more graduates annually compared to private universities. As a result of this, such institutions are made to cut down the number of graduates sent down per batch for the programme, while the private universities may not even meet up with the quota.
A corps member, Chika Johnson, who was once caught in this web, said after she graduated, she worked as a graduate-intern in a bank, while awaiting mobilization from the NYSC. “I worked alongside other graduate -interns from different schools and we were all awaiting the mobilization by November 2016. I already got in touch with the federal university I attended and was assured I was going this time, after waiting for two years! The day the list of registered graduates came out, I was nervous, but I later saw my name. Meanwhile, a fellow graduated as a summer graduate from a private university just that same year also got mobilized”.
The swearing-in and passing-out are the highlights of a three-week orientation camp experience organized for corps members. The events are always graced by the governors of the host states, or their representatives, the NYSC State Coordinator, several local government inspectors and others officers.
Aisha, serving in Kwara State said of the three weeks in camp: “I’d lived in Lagos all my life, so upon hearing that I was deployed to Yikpata Orientation Camp, Kwara State for service I was not so excited. When I got to camp I was very displeased with the living arrangement provided at the orientation camp, and I tried to adapt for the time being, but it was difficult. I kept wondering why the government made the programme compulsory, because of how uncomfortable I was every day in camp. Everything, from the food, convenience to the accommodation, was pitiable. I was treated for infections on two occasions. What got me through the unpleasant experience were the friends I made on camp ground”.
Another corps member, Nwachukwu also lamented: “Life in camp was like torture. Every morning we had to drag ourselves to the parade ground to pledge loyalty and service to our fatherland, we also stand for hours and have morning drills. I dreaded every time I had a meal in that environment, knowing that I would purge right after. The only time I was happy on camp grounds was when I was asleep”.
Often, the corps members are posted to cities far from their state of origin and are expected to mix with people of other tribes and also learn the cultures of the indigenes.
However, Saturday Sun learnt that many corps members seek redeployment from the states where they are posted, perhaps due to distance, or record of insecurity, or prospects of securing jobs immediately after completion. Lagos, Abuja and Ogun states are said to be the most –sought- after for redeployment in the federation.
A corps member, Ayo-Onita Damola, said he redeployed from Bayelsa State due to insecurity. His words: “I didn’t plan leaving Bayelsa the way I did, but I was put on a tight spot. After the orientation camp, I heard of the deaths of two corps members, one was attacked by cultists, while the other got drowned when their boat capsised. After this, I became uncomfortable. Later, I was posted to a school in a very far village for my primary assignment, my spirit was just bumpy, and I had to rent a room with a friend, because the accommodation provided by the school was very bad. I felt lost in the village and later left for Ibadan with my roommate”.
A female corps member, Chioma, said: “As much as I appreciate the allowance from the Federal Government every month, I must say that the money doesn’t go a long way for most of us. I receive N5,000 from my place of primary assignment plus the N19,800 from the government, making me earn an estimate of N25,000 monthly. After paying for rent, transportation and other provisions, I’m left with nothing till the next month. My local government is Ipokia near the borderline leading to Benin Republic. The community is strange to me. I don’t know why a corps member should even be posted to such a place, but as for me, I’ve started my redeployment and I must say that NYSC has been the toughest phase of my life.
The sorry tales may sometimes even turn morbid as the experience of Kunle Babaremu, the President of an NYSC Community Development Service group named Servicom, confirmed. Babaremu said: “I have been exposed to many events in the course of the inevitable task of serving the fatherland. What a pathetic scenario I had to, for the first time in my life, carry the corpse of a fellow corps member who died. The scheme is gradually deviating from the just cause that birthed it as more often than not, corps members are left in limbo during our service year. This may, of course, not apply to corps members whose parents belong to the political class, or affiliated to those in power”.
But, for Vivian Ojukwu, NYSC has served as a stepping stone and guide. The corps member declared: “I think the programme worked well in my favour, as I took opportunity of the service year to have insight into the career choices I had. It provided for free entrepreneurial training that helped me greatly. I have been able to open new ways of life and make new friends. It creates a great chance for networking”.