Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Monday, April 01, 2013

Sign of trouble ahead?

The National Youth Service Corps was created in Nigeria to bridge the huge cleavages in the country for part of the elite: university graduates.

Graduates were expected to participate in service projects away from the part of the country where they grew up, attended school and university.

Of course, political realities sometimes get in the way of those lofty goals.

Does this recent case (described in two articles) suggest that Nigerian unity is more threatened than ever?

Kano Bomb Blast - 900 Corps Members Seek Re-Deployment

NYSC trainees

About 900 National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members out of the 2413 deployed to Kano State for their orientation have been re-deployed to other parts of the country.

The State Coordinator of the NYSC, Alhaji Bashir Yakasai said prior to last Monday's incident in Sabon Gari, very few corps members indicated interest to be re-deployed after the orientation phase of their service.

900 Corps Members Seek Redeployment from Kano

NYSC trainees

With the resurgence of terrorism in Kano, the place is no longer safe for many of its residents, especially those whose stay in the hitherto bubbling commercial nerve centre of the north has been due to exigencies.

The state of insecurity foisted on Kano by the terrorist activities of Boko Haram has prompted about 900 out of the 2,413 National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed in Kano State for orientation to request redeployment to other parts of the country…

Speaking during the passing out parade of Batch A, held at Karaye camp, state Coordinator of the NYSC, Alhaji Bashir Yakasai appealed to corps members to utilise the skills acquired during their orientation, to be self-reliant.

In his address, the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje… called on corps members not to entertain any fear, assuring them that the government would provide adequate security for the people.

[The governor] urged them to respect the norms and culture of the people they are to cohabit with during the one-year mandatory service.

The governor warned all organisations, where the corps members would be posted to, against rejecting them, saying ministries, departments and agencies of government have been directed to accord the corps members deployed in their offices for their primary assignment all necessary assistance.