NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORP (NYSC), IS IT WORTH IT?

What hairstyle are you making for your POP (Passing out Parade)? Hmmm, I don't know yet. I'll most likely wear a wig. Precious looks at me blankly. Really? I will get a sew-in, get my nails done, fix my eyelashes and book a good makeup artist for the occasion. As she said this she could tell how uninterested I was in preparing for the occasion. Do I even need to? I honestly don't get what the hype is all about. Maybe it's because I have been away from Nigeria for a while. I'm surprised at how everyone is talking about it. It's like preparing for a college graduation ceremony. Is NYSC even worth it?

It was on March 29th, 2019. At exactly 4:30 am, we are woken up by the sound of a trumpet. A very sharp 'buzzing' sound comes on and we all jump off our beds, bath and get dressed for morning drills just like in military camp. At about 5:00 am, we jog out to parade ground wearing our white tennis shoes, white T-shirt and shorts. Urged on by soldiers, corpers (a member of the NYSC) are commanded to 'double up.' A few minutes later, soldiers come screaming, blowing deafening whistles and banging doors. 'If you're inside, you are wrroooooong. If you're sleeping, you are wrrooooooong. Get ouuuutttt.' Offenders are then instructed to do 'frog jumps' to the parade ground. 

Standing in Platoons (a subdivision of corpers that is commanded by a leader), we start the early morning praise and worship, followed by prayers preferable from one Christian and Muslim. Then an inspiration article is read to motivate corpers for the day. This piece is rotated among platoons until the end of the 3 weeks camp orientation course. We sing the Nigerian National anthem and NYSC anthem (taught in camp) after which announcements are made and sanctions such as abstinence from sex in the camp are given to fulfill all righteousness. At exactly 6:00 am, another trumpet is blown and everyone is called to attention to signify respect as Nigeria is about to wake up. The Nigerian flag is lifted on a pole as this tune is played. The same trumpet is played at 6:00 pm every day to signify Nigeria's sleep time and the flag is brought down. 

At around 6:00 am- 7:00 am, parade ground is dismissed and it's time for morning exercises. Based on Platoons, corpers are divided and given a leader to conduct training. This is fun as it's a time to sing, dance and unwind. Some of the songs are funny and creative, i.e

This is the way I wanted to be oo

Eeeee I want to be a corper 

Eeeee I want to be a corper 

Eeeee eeeee eeeee I want to be a corper 

This is the way I wanted to be

At exactly 7:30 am to 8:55 am, breakfast is ready. Another trumpet blows and corpers flood the kitchen with food flasks and meal tickets given at camp. Some eat at the mami market (a region full of restaurants and bars in camp). About an hour is reserved for breakfast and at around 9:30 am, lectures begin. Speakers are brought in from all corners of society to advise corpers on mainly 2 things. 1. How to survive in the camp. 2. How to survive during the one-year mandatory service at our various PPA (Places of primary assignments where we will be serving for the one year). These lectures turn into SAED (Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development) training where every corper is required to join one of the 6 skill acquisition courses Tailoring, Graphic Design, Makeup, Website Development, Computer basics and, Shoemaking. The purpose of this scheme is to help every corper develop a skill that may be useful if he/she doesn't get employed during or after service.

Batch A 2019 Orientation Course

At around noon, corpers are instructed to assemble on the parade ground for the one-time swearing-in ceremony (this is an official opening of the NYSC program). We sit on the ground under the hot scorching sun for hours. We are then instructed to roll on the ground and do 'frog jumps' by the soldiers. This makes no sense to me!'. After this activity, another trumpet is blown for lunch. An hour is given after which corpers are instructed back to the hall for another set of lectures until 4:00 pm. This goes on until a trumpet for dinner is blown at around 5:00 pm. Two hours are given then at 7:00 pm, inter Platoon competitions such as singing, dancing, and comedy begin. This sometimes goes on until the trumpet is blown for corpers to head back to their hostels at 9 pm. 

The same routine is enforced on camp for the whole 3 weeks and, some other activities such as the Man O War drill is carried on. This is a situation where corpers are made to crawl through a tunnel, swing from a thick rope and, climb through another tunnel with barbed wire. There is also the jean carnival day which is like a break from all the strenuous activities in camp. Corpers; all dressed in jeans, come out to dance, eat and just have fun. This is usually done towards the end of the camp. 

Jean Carnival Day

After the 3 weeks orientation course, we are all assigned letters indicating our PPA. Then dismissed. Most corpers are assigned to schools where they teach for the duration of the service year. We report to our various PPAs where some of us are rejected because the supply is higher than demand. Rejected corpers are asked to look for another PPA within their local govt. When approved, corpers are assigned various tasks in their PPA. Some none at all, just like in my case. 

I quickly wear my white T-shirt and Khaki Trouser and, head out to my CDS (Community Development Service) meeting. This is a weekly meeting for corp members. Divided into subdivisions such as Medical and Health, Drug-free and quality control, Dance and Drama, etc. The CDS is an opportunity for corp members to participate in activities that will positively impact the various communities where they are serving. It can be through sensitization, spreading awareness about a cause or buying goods for unprivileged individuals in society. This activity is followed by a compulsory monthly clearance where every corp member must report to the NYSC secretariat to thumbprint. Otherwise, a monthly stipend of #33,000 equivalent to $89.99 for that corp member will be withheld. Paid nothing by most PPAs, this monthly allowance is what most corpers depend on. With barely enough to feed, corpers are required to manage this money for the one-year duration of their service year. After this, everyone is expected to fend for himself. 

This is a rough breakdown of some activities done during the NYSC service year. Before I go further, I'll examine some pros and cons of the service.

1. Jobs: There is this belief that it will be difficult to get a job in Nigeria without the NYSC certificate. While some big companies such as shell list this as a major requirement for job application, this certificate doesn't in any way guarantee employment. A few corpers are lucky enough to get retained by their PPAs after service, while others start lurking around for mediocre jobs that may provide insignificant income. The unfortunate truth is that many corpers still end up being unemployed. 
2. Recognition, Respect, Federal Immunity: People respect corpers because of the NYSC uniform as they are generally referred to as 'government pickins' (children of the government). There are also some privileges enjoyed by corpers in which they can enter places where other civilians cannot enter. In all honesty, this is a sham. Corpers are paid pennies and the so-called respect is not what it's purported to be.
3. Unification, networking and, socialization: The NYSC scheme is an opportunity to bring graduates from all over Nigeria. From over 200 tribes to meet, live and serve the country together. 
4. Service: It feels good to be of service but are corpers serving the nation? Maybe, but that number is arguably less than 50%. The privileged citizens in Nigeria pay NYSC officials to post their children to the best locations in Nigeria. Government houses and top institutions where these corpers are not assigned any tasks at all. They disappear for a better part of the service year and show up every month-end to get cleared. Sometimes, only once at the end of the service year. So a year goes by and there is no contributed made to the nation whatsoever. 

So here comes my final verdict, is NYSC worth it? In all honesty, NO. As popularly said, NYSC is a scam.