Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to heed to the call for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps.
It urged Buhari to instead reform the scheme, which according to the group needs urgent reform.
The National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, made the call in response to a bill for the scrapping of the scheme at the House of Representatives.
The bill sponsored by Rep Awaji-Inombek Abiante, which has passed second reading, wants the NYSC scheme scrapped because of the raging insecurity in Nigeria.
But Onwubiko, in his response on the matter said: “If there is one thing the National Assembly has done exceedingly well since the return of democratic rule, it is playing to the gallery. Inconsequential laws have always received greater attention, while the lacunas to be filled with progressive legislation and legislative interventions are left largely unattended to.
“One of such distractions is the proposed law for the scrapping of NYSC scheme, which has been copied by many other countries. One wonders what example Nigeria would be showing such countries by scrapping the scheme it sold the idea to them.
“After a well-considered research and opinion poll conducted by HURIWA, the consensus was that President Muhammadu Buhari should preserve the legacies NYSC represents.”
Noting that what the scheme needs is urgent reforms, he added:
“Obviously, the NYSC scheme is in urgent need of reform. Insecurity is no doubt a major challenge confronting the scheme. But this is a national problem, which the scrapping of the NYSC cannot cure. What needs to be done is for states and organisations to provide adequate accommodations in secured environments for Corps members.
“HURIWA believes this is the best way to go instead of throwing away the baby with the bathwater.”