CHAPTERONE
INTRODUCTION
Experience, training or Orientation is the power and
test of every work done or to be done in human history. The National Youth Service
Corps (NYSC) is the only means through which graduates can obtain the best
training, orientation of up-bringing of the theoretical context of what they
study and equally the challenges to face as an independent entity.
According
to Oxford
advance learners Dictionary 7th Edition it defines Orientation as
training or information that is given before starting a new job, course etc.
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has it’s emphasis on the idea of
orientation and National Integration of graduates of various higher
Institutions. With these orientation and Integration, graduate from all tribe,
race and ethnic diversities are show how life should be after school and how
perform job with the trainer’s supervision. Oxford advance learners Dictionary, Special
Price Edition Saw Integration as act or process of mixing people who have previously
been separated, usually because of colour, race, religion etc. Therefore
National Youth Service Corps is a type of training and integration designed to
expose and prepare graduates of higher institutions for this purpose, ie what
they are likely to meet after graduation. The scheme or programme affords the opportunity
of being familiarized and exposed to various culture, tradition and interaction
and equally the experiences needed.
This
study however is not aimed at looking at what is training is all about or the
meaning of NYSC rather it is to critically assess the National Youth Service Corps
as an instrument of National development, using Abia State in Nigeria as a case
study. The case study is a state in South East Nigeria which was created to
promote integration of people from various race to enhance National
Development. These graduates which are integrated and oriented will become
managers of human resource and administrators of various ministries in the
state and Nigerian at large.
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
This
research work is being conducted to find out or make a critical assessment of
NYSC in Nigeria
and in Anambra in particular. What NYSC has done or would do for the Nigeria
graduates. The National Youth Service Corps is a programme designed to inculcate
discipline to the Youths by instilling in them a tradition of industry and
dedication and of patriotic and loyal service to the Nation in any situation in
which they may find themselves. Secondly the raising of the moral tone of the
youths by giving them the opportunity to learn about higher ideals of National
achievement and social and cultural improvement. Thirdly the development of
attitudes of mind and acquired suitable training, which will make them more
amenable to mobilization in the national interest. A also the central focus of
this scheme includes the development of common ties among the youths and the
promotion of national unity by ensuring that the participants in the scheme are
assigned to states other than their states of origin, or residence, that each
group assigned to work together, is as representative of the country as
possible. The participant the equally exposed to the mode of living of people
in different parts of the country with a view to removing pre-judices,
eliminating ignorance, and confirming at first hand the many similarities among
Nigerian’s of all ethnic groups, the encouragement of the participants in the
scheme to seek, at the end of their NYSC service, career employment all over
the country thus promoting the free movement of high level manpower in the
nation, and finally to induce employers to employ more readily than ever before
qualified Nigeria’s irrespective of their state of origin.
Abia
State which is one of the five South East State was created in 1991 under the
military regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida to further enhance
Development through manpower procurement, basic infrastructural facilities and
other basic necessary amenity Anambra.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
It has
been observed that some graduates have some misconception about this programme
as provided by federal government. Some graduates for example equate the
programme with holidays jobs or as three weeks picnic. Hence, the aims and the
commitment is lacking and so the skills and experience to be gained may at the
end not be acquired. Infact many of the graduates regards the camp allowances
and monthly “Alawie” stipends as vital.
Again,
there is reluctance among large numbers of employers to accepts and provide
facilities necessary for meaningful service year. Their fear is that must of
these graduates are inexperienced to hand certain delicate machines and tools
without damaging them during their primary assignment, a situation in which student
are not allowed to use certain equipments does not provide the desired motive
needed to prepare them for the task ahead.
Also,
some of these graduates are not supervised during their primary assignment at
all and are not fully secured and protected, as most of them are deployed to a
poor locality. All these are challenges which the scheme should addressed.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose
of the study is to assess critically on the extent of usefulness of National
Youth Service Corps. In order to do this, the research work will aim at the
following.
1.
To find out
whether the graduate participating in NYSC receive full orientation and
training.
2.
To find out
whether the graduates participating in NYSC gain insight into and about
national integration.
3.
To determine
whether NYSC helps to generate pool of indigenous trained manpower to meet the
needs of the country’s economy.
4.
To
investigate whether NYSC has put in adequate machineries to secure and protects
the participating graduates.
5.
To determine
whether the NYSC helps in securing and protecting the participating graduates
in their various places of primary assignment.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
From
the purpose of the study, it was assured that the scheme is completely different
from SIWES, or ordinary long vacation employment of the under-graduate, it is a
preparatory programme NYSC as at the time of it’s inception was limited to
graduates of various institutions of higher in Nigeria. The scheme has succeeded
in establishing a closer collaboration between institutions and industries,
which is essential for preparing and integrating people ahead of their ethnic
and cultural diversity. Heads of institutions of higher learning in the country
have now realized the use fullness and invaluable contribution of NYSC in
training graduates as a means of improving the quality of skilled manpower in
Nigeria. A standard which the limited resources in the institution cannot provide.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
In the
process of carrying out this research work, the following research questions
were used to guide the researcher. The study will attempt to answer to the
following questions.
1.
Do graduates
who participates in NYSC receive adequate training and orientation?
2.
Is NYSC
helping in enhancing national development and unity?
3.
What machinery
has NYSC put in place in generating a pool of indigenous trained manpower
needed by the country?
4.
Do the
participation graduates receive adequate protection during this programme?
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
In as
much as the study is specifically on the critical assessment of National Youth
Service Corps towards enhancing National development, based on this, there is
need to carry out a comparative research with a particular state in Nigeria.
This
study is limited to Abia State which is one of the five South East state in Nigeria. The reason behind this restriction is that
the researcher is a student facing both time and financial constraints.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
For the
purpose of this, some technical and other terms had been used in the research work
which may sound ambiguous. For simplicity, terms that may be new or strange to
the readers are explained as they are meant to be under stood by the
researcher.
Assessment:
NYSC: National Youth Service Corps, a programme designed
for training and orientation of graduates against life challenges and for
national development.
Researcher: Used to mean the person who carried out the
research work.
Training: A process that involves the acquisition of skills,
concepts, rules or attitudes in order to improve present and future performance.
Performance: The ability to carry out duties and
responsibilities demanded of their position.
Ethnic
Group: Sharing a common origin, culture or language.
Integration: Commune (parts) into a whole bring or come into
full membership of a community.
Mobilization: Assemble (troops etc) for active services.
Pre-Judices: Before the administration of justices.