News Editor
Peter Jerome
The Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar has said that those behind the planned scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme do not mean well for the country. He stated this on Monday when members of NYSC batch A stream 2 posted to Sokoto visited his palace.
This was in a reaction to the move by the lower chamber to discontinue the scheme on grounds that it has outlived its essence in a bill that has already passed second reading. The Sultan said those behind the bill did not wish Nigeria well.
The Sultan added that the scheme is currently the single most important scheme in the country now. He noted that the scheme is needed now more than ever in addressing the acute division and polarization of the country, adding that the scheme was established to foster the nation’s unity and strengthen ties among Nigerians.
He welcomed the corps members posted to the state, while assuring them of a peaceful atmosphere in Sokoto.
Abubakar urged the corps members to consider the state as their second home and explore the opportunities available.
Advising the corps members to respect the customs and traditions of their host communities, the monarch also urged them to be security conscious.
“I urge you to be security conscious while staying in Sokoto. You know there are security challenges now all over the world. We have our own share also,” he said.
” You should not keep late nights and if you have any challenges, contact your district heads because they are like your fathers and guardians.”
He gave the assurance that there would not be any reprisal because a northerner had been killed in the south, adding that life is sacred, and no one has the right to kill anybody at will.
He implored leaders to speak up when things are going wrong, saying injustice must also be addressed to calm tension and agitations.
The NYSC scheme was set up in 1973 during the military regime of Yakubu Gowon as an effort to reconcile and rebuild the country after the civil war.
