ABUJA – General Yakubu Gowon, the founder of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former military President Ibrahim Babangida and other Nigeria’s former presidents have been urged to intervene in the ongoing reforms of the Scheme.
The National Alliance for Democratic (NAD), which made the call on Friday in Abuja, warned that some of the proposed changes could weaken the scheme’s founding objective of promoting national unity.
The group said the reforms recently approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) should be carefully reviewed to ensure they do not undermine the core ideals upon which the NYSC was established in 1973 following the Nigerian Civil War...To Read The Full Content; Tap Here Now .
Addressing journalists, the National Convener of NAD, Dr. Lucky Eremosele, urged General Gowon, the founder of the NYSC, alongside former Presidents, to engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ensure that any restructuring of the scheme aligns with Nigeria’s broader national interest.
According to him, while the alliance supports efforts to modernise the programme, reforms must not diminish the NYSC’s role as a platform for national integration and unity among young Nigerians.
He cautioned that shifting the focus of the scheme primarily towards vocational skills or commercial objectives could weaken its nation-building mandate, especially at a time when the country continues to grapple with security challenges and ethnic divisions.
“The NYSC remains one of Nigeria’s most enduring institutions for fostering unity across ethnic, religious and regional lines. Any reform must preserve that identity,” Eremosele said.
The group maintained that the traditional deployment of corps members across different states has helped strengthen mutual understanding among Nigerians and contributed significantly to post-civil war reconciliation.
NAD also called for broader consultations before the reforms are implemented, urging the government to involve critical stakeholders, including traditional rulers, youth organisations, civil society groups and members of the generation that established the scheme.
The alliance specifically appealed to General Gowon, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former military President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of the Interim National Government Ernest Shonekan, former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar and other elder statesmen to offer their experience in guiding the reform process.
Eremosele argued that their intervention would provide the historical perspective needed to ensure the reforms strengthen rather than weaken the NYSC.
He also urged the government to carefully review proposals relating to technology-driven mobilisation and specialised career streams, warning that such initiatives should not create inequality or reduce opportunities for graduates to participate in meaningful national service.
While acknowledging President Tinubu’s commitment to improving opportunities for young Nigerians, the group stressed that preserving the NYSC’s original philosophy should remain a priority.
NAD further called on the Federal Government to place greater emphasis on the safety and welfare of corps members, describing them as critical ambassadors of national unity.
The alliance warned that reforms perceived as undermining the scheme’s core values could erode public confidence in one of Nigeria’s longest-standing nation-building institutions.
It reaffirmed its support for reforms that improve the NYSC’s efficiency and relevance but insisted that any changes must protect the programme’s enduring mission of promoting national cohesion and integration.