Photo credit: the Cable
Some months ago, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) turned 50 and people wanted to set the internet ablaze with their experience.
Some went on to dust their service year pictures and were displaying them on social media.
For those of us who never had an opportunity to serve as Youth Corp members, it was traumatizing. How I wished mechanics, welders, tailors and fashion designers too had the opportunity to serve.
But seriously, I would think only a few people reflected on the reasons for the founding of the NYSC and whether it’s still necessary these days.
I am sure when the body was founded, although Nigeria had just emerged from an unnecessary civil war, the nation was much safer then. One could take a Peugeot car from Kaduna at 11:00 pm and arrive Lagos before 6:00 am the following day.
There was no Boko Haram, there were no kidnappers and above all the roads were in a much better state.
However, we can’t say the same now. Comparing the situation in those days with the happenings now is like comparing sleep with death.
Trust Nigerians, since the authorities are pretending they don’t know what to do, people have been helping themselves.
How national is the National Youth Service Corps now? Are members of the corps not changing their primary states of service? Of course, some still stay there!
Wouldn’t it have been better for the authorities to make the service a regional affair now?
How about the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board?
Is the body still relevant?
Isn’t it true that the body is full of dirty acts?
Is the body fully in charge of all admissions into Nigeria’s higher institutions? Isn’t it a fact that some influential people have slots allocated to them?
Isn’t it also a fact that special centers exist for JAMB examinations?
What spurred this post is the current imbroglio in which the board is involved. A minor in Anambra state has been accused of forging JAMB results.
Now, it’s my view that anyone could be accused of perpetrating a crime. However, when they’re minors, efforts should be consciously made for their identity not to be revealed.
The present case is such a shame on JAMB even if the body is proved right which I have reasons to doubt.
I prefer higher institutions handling their own admissions.
My take is that both bodies have overstayed their welcome!
07032023
