Policy and leadership analyst Sir S.N.C. Nwagu, FICA, MNIA, has called for the removal of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, discharge certificate as a compulsory requirement for employment in Nigeria.
Nwagu made the call during an interview on Beyond the Headlines on Freedom Square TV, hosted by Uchenna Cyril Anioke, Ph.D., while discussing the need to reform the NYSC.
He questioned the continued relevance of making possession of an NYSC discharge certificate a condition for securing employment, arguing that the certificate should not determine the employability of a graduate.
According to him, if the NYSC itself is reformed to provide meaningful training and skills, the certificate could have value, but under the current system, requiring it for employment does not necessarily demonstrate competence.
“That thing should be removed now. What do you need it for? You have a paperwork that has no meaning,” Nwagu said.
He argued that employers should focus more on the skills and competence of applicants rather than whether they possess an NYSC certificate.
Nwagu also raised concerns about Nigerian graduates who studied outside the country and may be unable to secure employment because they have not participated in the NYSC scheme.
He cited the case of former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun during the discussion as an example of the consequences that can arise from the certificate requirement, although he attributed the issue to the existing law governing the scheme.
The policy analyst said Nigeria needed to move away from an excessive emphasis on certificates and focus more on practical skills and productivity.
He proposed that instead of spending large sums on uniforms and allowances without sufficient productive outcomes, government could channel resources towards giving young graduates skills, professional training and financial support to establish businesses or pursue careers.
Nwagu suggested that graduates could be allowed to select professional or entrepreneurial areas of interest during the service period and receive structured training in those areas.
He cited an example of encouraging a relative to undertake a professional course during the NYSC period instead of allowing the year to pass without acquiring an additional skill.
According to him, such an approach could enable graduates to leave the programme with practical qualifications that could improve their chances of becoming self-employed or securing employment.
He therefore called for a review of the law establishing NYSC, saying the legislation should reflect the needs and aspirations of contemporary Nigerian youths.
Nwagu maintained that the scheme should remain compulsory only after it has been properly reformed, while the existing structure should not continue to impose the certificate requirement on graduates.
“If it is properly reformed, mandatory. But if it is the way it is, I recommend it be voluntary,” he said.
He further argued that a reformed NYSC could extend beyond the current one-year period where necessary, saying additional time could be used to properly train and prepare young Nigerians for the labour market.