NYSC Denies Mobilising Corp Members For War

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has denied reports that the Director-General of the scheme, Brig. Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim said youth corps members could be mobilized for war.
Ibrahim on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ programme on Wednesday said corp members are part of the reserve defence system of Nigeria while reacting to moves to scrap the scheme.

“They are part of the national defence policy of this country,” Ibrahim said.

“So, where there is serious war, our corps members are educated, they are knowledgeable and they can be trained.

” You see the drill and so on.”

He further stated that corp members are moulded like soldiers within the short period of three weeks in the orientation camps,

“You see female corps members blowing the army horn, playing with the military band,”” Ibrahim said.

“So, if not for the knowledge, where are you going to mobilise such young Nigerians to train them quickly to put in their best for the country? So, corps members are on reserve. They are also part of the national defence policy.

The DG statement has attracted reactions on social media with many making jest of the statement.

NYSC, however, claimed that its director-general was quoted out of context.

“This is to clarify the misrepresentation of the NYSC Director-General’s recent interview with the media currently trending on the social media,” NYSC said.

“The Director-General had stated that in line with the National Defence Policy, Corps Members are like soldiers on reserve, because their education, exposure and sophistication, can make them easily adaptable to military training.

Source: Guardian.