Reps Member Urges Suspension of NYSC Reforms

Agbes, representing the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the proposed reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) during a statement made on Sunday in Abuja. He called for the establishment of a broader committee that would include security experts, lawmakers, former NYSC officials, youth groups, and other stakeholders to conduct a comprehensive review of the proposed reforms.

While acknowledging the need to modernize the NYSC scheme, Agbes emphasized that the reforms should not undermine the original objectives of the NYSC, which was established on May 22, 1973, to foster national integration following the Nigerian Civil War. The proposed reforms include restructuring the NYSC into three phases, introducing 11 specialized career streams for corps members, and replacing traditional khaki uniforms with locally made attire.

These proposals have received mixed reactions, with critics arguing that they could weaken the scheme's foundational goals.