The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has denied reports that the Director-General of the scheme, Brig. Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim said that youth corps members could be mobilised for war.
TrackNews Online reports that the NYSC DG was quoted to have told Channels TV that corps members are part of the reserve defence system of Nigeria.
“Corps members are on reserve. They are part of the national defence policy of this country. So, where there is serious war, our corps members are educated, they are knowledgeable and they can be trained. You see the drill and so on,” he was quoted to have said.
“You can imagine within the short three weeks in the orientation camps, the corps members are moulded. They are like soldiers. You see female corps members blowing the army horn, playing with the military band.
“So, if not for the knowledge, where are you going to mobilise such young Nigerians to train them quickly to put in their best for the country? So, corps members are on reserve. They are also part of the national defence policy.”
But in a swift reaction, the NYSC on Thursday night said its Director-General was qouted out of context.
“This is to clarify the misrepresentation of the NYSC Director-General’s recent interview with the media currently trending on the social media,” NYSC said.
“The Director-General had stated that in line with the National Defence Policy, Corps Members are like soldiers on reserve, because their education, exposure and sophistication, can make them easily adaptable to military training.
“He charged them to remain focused and patriotic; and for the spirit of NYSC to live in all Nigerians.
“General Ibrahim never at any point said that Corps Members are being mobilised to fight war.
“The Scheme shall continue to safeguard the interest of Corps Members at all times,”