Lagos  – A lawmaker representing Epe Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Segun Olulade, has condemned the handling of the National Youth Service (NYSC) scheme.Hs said the  the scheme no longer make any sense and is unfair to the present Nigerian youths
Hon. Olulade gave this reaction in commemoration of the International Human Rights Day, lamenting the recent series of tragedies occurring at various orientation camps, leading to avoidable deaths of young people, especially in careless circumstances.
Speaking through a statement issued over the weekend, he said the scheme, which was primarily established after Nigeria’s civil war to foster unity in the nation, has outlived its purpose, just as he added that young people have rights that must be respected under all circumstances.
The lawmaker also noted that the scheme, which was meant to encourage inter-cultural relations and patriotism to the fatherland no longer serve the purpose but rather has become a mere exercise and platform for meting serious injustices against the present Nigerian youths.
He observed that on no account must a young person lose his/her life for being a corp member, adding that the scheme is no longer dignifying, as refugee camps are often better than orientation camps across the nation.
According to Olulade, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, there is no doubt that the ideology of the scheme was a good one in the beginning, but however, it is not a bad idea to review it holistically and conclude whether it is still useful or not.
“As a parent, it is painful to see a promising youth lose his/her life in deplorable circumstance as we are seeing today in our orientation camps across the nation.
“It is also not dignifying to see Corp members being treated like refugees at the orientation camps all in the name of a service scheme as this contravenes fundamental human rights of the concerned youths.
“The scheme presently represents the attitude and character of a nation that has no respect for human lives and human dignity. It must be holistically reviewed and made better or scrapped if the Federal Government can no longer maintain a healthy scheme in this regard,”Olulade opined
The Lawmaker pointed out that it is sad that the National Assembly is not seeing the matter as critical as it is. “The issue surrounding NYSC scheme is more pressing than the separation of State/Local Government joint account which the National Assembly now flexes muscle over,” Olulade stressed.