The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, says that corps members can be mobilized for war if the need arises.
While speaking on Channels Television in a recent interview, the NYSC DG says the corps members are part of the nation’s national defense reserve and they can be called upon to take part in a war situation.
He said this while reacting to the agitation to scrap the NYSC scheme which is designed to promote social and cultural integration in the country by posting Higher Institution graduates to serve in various parts of the country for a year.
He said;
“Corps members are on reserve. They are part of the national defense policy of this country. So, where there is serious war, our corps members are educated, they are knowledgeable and they can be trained. You see the drill and so on.”
“You can imagine within the short three weeks in the orientation camps, the corps members are molded. They are like soldiers. You see female corps members blowing the army horn, playing with the military band.”
“So, if not for the knowledge, where are you going to mobilize such young Nigerians to train them quickly to put in their best for the country? So, corps members are on reserve. They are also part of the national defense policy”, his statement read partly.
Last week, the call for the scrapping of the scheme dominated headlines as some believed it has lost its essence. Others argued that the scheme should be canceled because of the deteriorating state of security in the country.
However, the NYSC DG reiterated that the security of corps members is always on premium
