Students react to Reps’ plan to scrap NYSC -By Clement Pius

Students of some public universities in the country have expressed divergent views over a move by the House of Representatives to repel the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act.

Established by the regime of General Yakubu Gowon on May 22, 1973, the NYSC was introduced with the aim of fostering national unity and cohesion, among others.

Confidence Odok, a 200-level student of University of Calabar (UNICAL), highlighted the strides the Scheme has recorded over the years.

She said: “The Scheme has helped many students to discover their potentials and learn new things they would not have learn within their immediate vicinity and schools.”

On his part, Usman Mohammed, a final-year mass communication student at the Bayero University, Kano (BUK), said the NYSC is a waste of time for many graduates.

He said: “I totally agree with the House of Representative to abolish the Scheme. It has outlived its usefulness.”

Khadijat Tijjani, a student of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), in Niger State, however advised the National Assembly (NASS) members to channel their energies towards addressing the major challenges bedeviling the country, instead of contemplating ways to eliminate the NYSC.

According to her, “They should devise better means of containing insecurity across our land, rather than dissipating their energies on NYSC.”

Pius is a 400-Level Mass Communication student at Bayero University, Kano