Attahiru Jega, the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is one of the best schemes introduced by the military and should be sustained.

Mr Jega said this on Monday in Abuja while delivering the 50th-anniversary lecture of the NYSC with the theme ‘NYSC: Five Decades of Fostering National Unity and Development’.

According to him, the NYSC has substantially achieved the objectives for which it was established.

He said, “Certainly, there have been a lot of accomplishments in the area of national integration and nation-building. The young men and women have contributed to the Nigerian economy as professionals who have just graduated from universities or tertiary institutions and who are providing cheap labour and national service.”

The ex-INEC boss added, “Similarly, in community development, in education and in health, especially in the rural areas and through their participation in national elections.”

Mr Jega noted that he was instrumental in fostering a relationship between INEC and NYSC to ensure greater involvement and participation of youth corps members in the electoral process.

“I can testify that the contributions that these young men and women made in spite of the risk that many of them faced in discharging their duties added to lifting the integrity of our elections,” he said.

The former INEC chair, however, explained that to sustain the scheme and reposition it for optimal performance, its challenges must be addressed.

He listed the challenges to include dwindling resources amid more enrollment of participants and the need to target the energy of the youths toward national development.

Mr Jega urged the government at all levels to provide adequate security for youth corps members, insure their lives and increase funding for the scheme.

Commenting on the occasion, Yusha’u Ahmed, the NYSC director-general, said, “I have carefully outlined five policy thrusts, namely focusing on the welfare and security of both youth corps members and staff, research development and stakeholders’ engagement.

The NYSC boss added, “Others are capacity development and deepening the impact of skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development as sustainable means of addressing post-service unemployment.”

(NAN)