Director of the Abuja School of Social Thought and Politics, Sam Amadi, has declared that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has failed, insisting that the scheme only worked in Nigeria’s past.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Amadi argued that elite “self-select” practices have undermined the programme’s original intent.
“Most elites now self-select… everybody wants their children posted to Abuja or Lagos. That defeats the fundamental framework of the scheme,” he said.
He noted that inadequate resources and poor oversight have left corps members vulnerable, with tragic incidents fueling resentment.
“The ministry that oversees it doesn’t have the resources to provide protection. Young people die, and many only participate because there are no jobs,” Amadi added.
The scholar stressed that graduates should not be deployed to unsafe states, saying: “If Imo State is unsafe, don’t deploy people there. It’s not about sharing the national cake; it should be about protecting lives and serving national needs."
Amadi further argued that the NYSC model is outdated, given Nigeria’s growing graduate population.
“It was designed when we had a small population of graduates. Today, polytechnics and nursing schools produce too many. The numbers should be reduced,” he said.
He suggested reforms that would make participation competitive and meaningful: “Maybe it should not take everybody who graduates. Students should compete for this national honour so they get value and a badge.”
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