The Senate President, David Mark, has called on the federal government to elongate the one year compulsory National Youth Service Scheme to two years.
He made the call in Abuja when he addressed the 125 National Defence College (NDC) participant’s course 18 graduates and their directing staff. He said the additional one year should be devoted to military training.
Mr Mark argued that the current three-week orientation program is “just inadequate.” He suggested that, in addition to the military training, the first year should also be devoted to training the graduates in discipline, national interest, values and inculcation of patriotism, ideals of nationhood and development. “I believe that when we get our national interest and values right with proper discipline among the youth and commitment to our fatherland, the ingredients needed for national survival, and the malaise in our society would have been erased,” he said.
Nigeria currently practices a scheme where all graduates of tertiary institutions below the age of 30 compulsorily give one year of service to the nation. The corps members are posted to a state different from their home state and state of residence. The scheme was initiated after the civil war, to encourage national integration.
Defence university
The Senate President also called on the federal government to upgrade the NDC to a defence university. He argued that the achievements of the NDC and its curriculum meet global standards for a university, and have adequately prepared the institution for the upgrade.
The National Defence College was formerly the National War College and the Senate President was one of the founding directing staff of the institution at its inception in 1992. He was also part of the lawmakers that amended the act establishing the NWC to NDC.
“We don’t need war, but a strong defence force that would propel national development,” he added.
He also called for adequate funding of the armed forces to back up our democracy, saying, “A strong democracy requires strong defence.” On the recent amendment of the constitution, Mr Mark said the National Assembly has fulfilled one of the cardinal promises made to Nigerians at its inauguration in 2007. “We started with electoral reforms because it will form the basis for free, fair and credible elections Nigerians are yarning for.”
Eight other African countries: Togo, Lesotho, Ghana, Republic of Niger, Chad, Sierra Leone and Zambia participated in the intensive military and academic program that lasted 47 weeks.
Source: Next Newspapers -www.234next.com
Our leaders just like wasting young people’s time&talent in this country.Instead of scrapping d useless NYSC,he’s asking 4 an extension to 2 yrs.Well,I don’t blame him when he knows dt his children are not here.
this man is funny. when most people are calling for an outright scrapping of the NYSC as it has lost the objective it was created for, caused unnecessary pain and hardship for most corpers and their families, our dear Senate President is now asking for a 2 year service year, i think 20 years would be more appropriate.
This is one of the most unserious senate president I have ever seen. Is it compulsory to speak if all he has to say is pure gibberish and jargons. When his children are abroad studying in expensive schools, then it should not be surpising. Their generation spoiled this country and he has the gut of seeking 2yrs NYSC service in order to acheive patriotism, what a fool’s talk. Such words coming from a man who said GSM is not meant for the common man. This world is surely coming to an end.
I think what we should ask this foolish being is that are they planning to start using NYSC graduate as military men or as there ‘body guide’ after completion of there youth service.let ask him to enrow one or two out his children in school like OAU so that after the so called child had used 5-7yrs to study a 4yrs course will go for 2yrs composory NYSC.
Mr Mark lets us ammend other arears of d education system before embarking on an enlongation.Firstly, d universities arent sufficient to accomodate all students for a particular year, hence dese students stay back at home spending more years. Eventually dey get an admission and graduate spending two years for NYSC and the so called firms in Nigeria states a stipulated age for employment. Please tell me how u expect dese set of people to be employed with a minimum of age of 23 for employment required to emplpy a graduate after spending some years at home before getting an admission into the university(also with an admission later and strike here and dere)
I tink dis country needs deliverance
Other countries are suffering from natural disaster and Nigeria is suffering from human disaster
Infact, this is just mere wickedness…..
if this david mark could really see the amount of corpers being rejected by the country they are made to serve then he wont talk rubbish..why not sort out the real issues unemployment for the graduates….and corruption. i think he was drunk when making such statements….what did nysc do for me except put my life at risk due to religious unrest and made me live under unbearable conditions….these our so called leaders! so wake up or you will soon face God’s judgement. ive prayed for you now mr david mark.
Dear mr. Mark, u made me laugh, hw could u come up with such an iconoclastic opinion. It is abnormal so to say. Everybody, even God knows dt u can’t help it. So pls save ur breath and don’t think of actualizing ds ur damn opinion. I beg u-oh–oh…
I think David mark is getting mental.lets his children come 2 Nigeria and serve military training 4 2 yrs.may God forgive our leaders ohhhhh….
I think David mark is going mental.lets his children come 2 Nigeria and serve military training 4 2 yrs.may God forgive our leaders ohhhhh….
I think David mark is going mental,inane and simpleton.lets his children come 2 Nigeria and serve military training 4 2 yrs.may God forgive our leaders ohhhhh….
It seems David Mark, as a retired soldier, has appreciated the crises-laden situation in this country and that this may require military trained corpers… for intervention?!!
SHEA, MR SENATOR HAVE BEEN ABLE NOT EXPLAIN HIMSLF BECAUSE HE MADE NO POINT EXCEPT LETAR.THE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CARE FOR CORP MEMBERS FOR 1YR AND HE TALKS OF TWO YEARS.
INFACT MARK, INCREASE OUR ALAWI TO 50K @ LEAST AND WE SERVE YOU 4 TREE YEARS.
OR YOU BRING YOUR CHILDREN 2 NIGERIA LET SUFFER TOGEDA OR DO HE THINK DAT THEY ARE MORE BRILLIANT THAN MANY OF US?
INFACT, THIS IS NO MORE HAUSA ERA SO IT CANT WORK.GO TO ABYESS OR HELL. CHOSE ONE OR BOTH.
Oga Mark, what happens after the 2 years? Employment or Unemployment?
Is this what is lacking in Nigeria at this time; is this what we need as a people to move forward.
Men and brethren, it is high time we had visionary leaders in this country. Enough of this nonsense!
HABBA….. MR DAVID MARK, IT IS ONLY A SELFNESS HUMAN BEIGN COULD EVER SUPPORT THAT OF YOUR OPINION, I BELIEVED THAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE NOT IN NIGERIA, BUT IF THIS OPINION HAS TO BE APPROVED, I ADVICE YOU TO BRING YOUR CHILDREN TO ENROL IN UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN TO COME AND FACE COMPUTER BASED TEST IF THEY ARE GOING TO COMPLETE THIER 4YEARS DEGREE. I BELIEVED THEY CAN NEVER COMPLETE IT IN 8YEAR.
MOREOVER, IF MR MARK IS TIRED AND HAS NOTHING TO SAY IS BETTER TO QUIET AND FIND A SOLUTION TO PDP PROBLEM
HABBA, OGA DAVID MARK, YOUR CHILDREN ARE IN ABROAD SCHOOLING, AND YOU IN NIGERIA EMBEZZLE AND MISSAPPROPRIATE OF NIGERI RESOURCE STILL SEEKING FOR THE EXTENSION NYSC, I WANT PEOPLE IN HOUSE OF REP TO COME AND GIVE APPROPRIATE ANSWER TO THIS DEVIL SENATE PRESIDENT WHO HAS NO HUMAN FEELING. BUT IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT YOUR PASS THROUGH EDUCATION WITHOUT PAYING KOBO. AND IF YOU HAVE EVER PAID IS BETTER TO SHOW HOW MUCH YOU SPENT IN YOUR PRIMARY SCHOOL TO UNIVERSITY. IT IS NOT EVEN UPTO THE SPENT FOR CAB DURING MY FIRST SEMESTER IN UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN. INFACT YOUR EDUCATION IS FREE
The most funny joke of the year…
Oh! This man! I think U dont know what U are saying? Graduates spend 1Yrs after finishing theri degree programmes for 4Yrs just for the Service, but yet after completing their service, they will end up having no JOB? All this, it is not a matter 4 U to discuss………. but U think of adding more Year. Ahh!!!
COMRADES IN PROGRESS THE NOBLE IDEA OF THE SENATE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE A WELCOMED ONE . THE NEW GRADUANDS MAY NOT HAVE SEEN THE AUTHENTIC RATIONALS BEHIND THE YOUTH SERVICE EXTENSION , BUT IT IS GOOD TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN THE WORLD IN ITS REAL STATE. . APART FROM YOUTH INTERGRATION,
AND THE GENUINE POINTS RAISED BY THE SENATE PRESIDENT WHAT THE YOUTH WOULD BENEFITS ALONG SIDE WOULD BE
IMMEASURABLE . THE YOUTH SHOULD NOT FORGET THAT MILITARY LOGISTIC WILL SURELY CATER FOR THEIR FINANCIAL NEEDS WHICH COULD BE A STARTING POINT TO PROGRESS IN THE LIFE OF UNCOUNTABLE GRADUATES. . MOST OF US WHO ARE ACADEMIC LILIPUT AND GIANT RESPECTIVELY SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS AN AVENUE TO SEE OURSELVES AS A MASTER OF OUR ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE. WE ARE TAUGHT TO BE JOB CREATOR AND NOT A JOB SEEKERS . HONESTLY SPEAKING MORE KNOWLEDGE WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE MILITARY LOGISTIC , THERE WILL BE NEW IDEAS WHICH WILL HELP NIGERIAN FLAGS TO FLY HIGH AND HIGHER. NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY GRADUATES SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE MORE KNOWLEDGABLE THAN THOSE THEY THINK ARE BETTER THAN THEM ONLY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER DISCOVERED THEMSELVES AND THEIR TALENTS. PLEASE BRING OUT YOUR TALENTS AND GET REWARD FOR IT BY THE MILITARY LOGISTIC . THE IDEAS THAT WILL BE OF BENEFITS TO HUMANITY AND SO ON IN THE COURSE OF YOUR SERVICE . PLEASE THE ADMINISTRATOR TOO SHOULD WAKE UP TO THE TASK AHEAD IN TERMS OF NEW DEVELOPMENT.. PLEASE THIS IS ENOUGH FOR TODAY THANKS AND GOD BLESS!
@wanda do you now work for the senator? your comment is baseless and irrelevant. extra military training or not doesnt explore or bring out ones inner talent. many people have tried starting their stuff co no corporate jobs. so work, others dont. some cant start cos of funds so extending service year will not make any difference and will not be the the solution to our corrupt economy, bad education system, inflation…..need i go on please drop this issue already. our leaders are just plain selfish and they will all get whats coming to them unless they change and think of the people.
so angry made so much errors in my last comment pls wande dont upset me further. haba!
It was a very sad to heard ds 4rm d leader, a scheme dat people’s want to be abborlished dat Sen. President seek’g4 2yrs extentn.pls he has to be warn.