The House of Representatives, in a decisive move to bolster the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, has passed a resolution urging the Federal Government to establish additional permanent orientation camps and rehabilitate existing ones. This action stems from the growing concern over the deteriorating conditions and inadequacy of current facilities, which hinder the seamless participation of prospective corps members in the program. The resolution, presented by Representative Garba Muhammad, highlights the critical role of the NYSC in training thousands of Nigerian youths annually, equipping them with essential skills and knowledge for their service year.
The motion underscored the pressing need for improved infrastructure to accommodate the increasing number of corps members. Representative Muhammad expressed alarm over the lack of dedicated orientation camps in some states, forcing the NYSC to rely on temporary arrangements like using secondary school facilities. He also drew attention to the dilapidated state of existing camps, which suffer from overcrowding and inadequate amenities. This situation often necessitates the redeployment of corps members to neighboring states for their orientation, causing logistical challenges, extended travel times, and added stress for the participants.
The House recognized the importance of providing conducive environments for corps members during their orientation period, as this formative stage plays a crucial role in their overall NYSC experience. The resolution emphasizes the need for modern, spacious camps in each state, capable of hosting at least 5,000 participants, to address the current capacity constraints. This expansion would not only alleviate overcrowding and logistical issues but also create a more positive and enriching orientation experience for the corps members.
The resolution calls for a concerted effort between the Federal Government and state governments to achieve this objective. It urges collaboration in constructing new camps and upgrading existing ones to meet the proposed capacity of 5,000 corps members per state. This collaborative approach recognizes the shared responsibility in ensuring the success of the NYSC scheme, which benefits both the participating youths and the nation as a whole. The upgraded facilities would provide a more conducive learning environment, contributing to the effective delivery of the orientation program and better preparing corps members for their service year.
Furthermore, the House emphasized the importance of developing a comprehensive plan for building and expanding NYSC orientation facilities. It mandated the Federal Ministry of Youth to engage with relevant stakeholders to formulate actionable plans for this purpose. This comprehensive approach aims to ensure a structured and sustainable solution to the infrastructure challenges facing the NYSC, moving beyond ad-hoc interventions to a long-term strategy for providing adequate orientation facilities for future generations of corps members. The involvement of stakeholders would ensure that the plans are well-informed and aligned with the overall objectives of the NYSC scheme.
To ensure accountability and timely implementation, the House assigned its Committees on Youth Development and Legislative Compliance to oversee the process. These committees are tasked with monitoring the progress made by the Federal Government and state governments in implementing the resolution and reporting back to the House within four weeks. This oversight mechanism will ensure that the resolution translates into concrete actions, leading to tangible improvements in the infrastructure and overall experience of the NYSC orientation program. The four-week timeframe for reporting back demonstrates the House’s commitment to addressing this issue expeditiously.
