‘NYSC is Nigeria’s only legacy of unity, don’t scrap it’, HURIWA declares

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme is the only legacy of unity in Nigeria and should not be scrapped, civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has stated.

National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, announced this in a statement entitled, ‘Move To Scrap Nysc Unpatriotic; A Sobotage: Says Huriwa’.

Onwubiko was responding to a move by the House of Representatives to scrap the National Youth Service Corps scheme.

Top Naija had earlier reported that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alteration Bill, 2020, which seeks to cancel the NYSC Act, is billed for the 2nd reading.

The sponsor, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, listed the rising insecurity and constant killing of innocent corps members in the nation among others as reasons for proposing the bill.

However, responding in a statement on Tuesday, HURIWA stated that the scheme has been playing a part in bringing solidarity to the nation, as it unites youths together.

The statement read in part, “As far as most Civil Rights practitioners in Nigeria are concerned, this government has made remarkable milestones in the Youth sector. The consistent strides made by President (Muhammadu) Buhari to sustain the only legacy that reminds us of our National Unity, which is the NYSC, have become a beacon of hope for generations yet unborn.

“On no account should any negative force be permitted to succeed in scuttling the NYSC. What we expect is for all hands to be on deck to consolidate on the gains made by NYSC and to strengthen its operational capacity.

“We are very hopeful that both speakers of parliament and the Senate President are proud products of the Noble NYSC scheme and should ensure that no stone is left unturned to stop forthwith the retrogressive march to infamy which is what the proposal to end the NYSC Scheme represents.”