Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has opposed suggestions that the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should no longer be a military officer, insisting that the paramilitary orientation of the scheme remains relevant in the face of Nigeria’s security challenges.
Sani, in a post on his verified social media page, argued that while reforming the NYSC was a welcome idea, the leadership of the scheme should remain in the hands of a serving military officer.
“Reforming the NYSC is a good idea, but the DG of the Corps should remain a soldier and not another politician or academic,” he stated.
The former lawmaker further cautioned against any move to abolish the military training component of the orientation programme.
“Under no circumstance should the military training be discarded from the service,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s prevailing security situation makes such training more necessary than ever.
“A nation facing this kind of security threats needs such training now more than at any other time,” Sani added.
His comments come amid ongoing public discussions on possible reforms to the NYSC scheme, including proposals relating to its structure, leadership and orientation programme.
Sani maintained that while institutional reforms could strengthen the scheme, its discipline and paramilitary character should be preserved.