Agbese Urges Tinubu to Halt NYSC Reform Implementation

Philip Agbese, representing Ado, Okpokwu, and Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend the implementation of proposed reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, Agbese expressed concerns that the restructuring could undermine the NYSC's core mandate of promoting national unity and security.

He suggested the formation of a broader committee comprising security experts, lawmakers, former NYSC officials, and youth organizations to conduct a comprehensive review of the proposed reforms. Agbese criticized the plan to shift the NYSC's focus from its original objectives established in 1973, which aimed to foster national integration post-civil war.

He emphasized that the NYSC plays a strategic role in national development and supports critical sectors such as education and healthcare. The proposed reforms include appointing a civilian director-general and introducing specialized career streams for corps members, which have received mixed reactions regarding their necessity and potential impact on the scheme's original mandate.