The PTA of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to scrap NYSC if it cannot guarantee the safety of corps members amid rising kidnappings and insecurity

The National President of the Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria, Haruna Danjuma, has urged the Federal Government to scrap the National Youth Service Corps scheme if it cannot guarantee the safety of corps members across the country.

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Danjuma made the call amid growing concerns about the security of corps members following reported cases of kidnappings, killings, and attacks in several parts of Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of parents, he said many families are increasingly worried about the risks young graduates face during the mandatory national service year.

“On behalf of parents, we are not happy with what is happening. It is painful to lose a child. It is not easy to train a child from birth until they complete university and then at NYSC, the child gets kidnapped,” he said.

Danjuma noted that since participation in the scheme is compulsory for graduates, the government has a responsibility to ensure their safety.

“We have said it repeatedly that the government has the responsibility of ensuring the security and welfare of all Nigerians. Since they engaged these young graduates in the scheme, they must ensure the safety of our children,” he stated.

He further proposed that state governors and security agencies should sign formal undertakings guaranteeing the safety of corps members before they are deployed to their states.

“The Federal Government should ensure that governors and the security architecture of each state sign an undertaking guaranteeing the safety of corps members before they are deployed there,” he added.

Danjuma warned that if adequate protection cannot be provided, the scheme should be discontinued entirely.

“If you cannot protect the lives of these children, then scrap the NYSC because the value of the scheme is already defeated if the children are not safe,” he said.

Amnesty International Raises Concern

Also speaking on the issue, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said the concerns raised by parents were legitimate and should not be ignored.

Sanusi criticised the management of the NYSC scheme for allegedly leaving families to deal with kidnappers without sufficient institutional support.

“The concerns of the parents are absolutely right. There is no way someone would train his child up to that level, send him to NYSC, only to end up paying ransom,” he said.

He added that even if the programme is not scrapped, stronger security measures must be implemented to prevent corps members from being deployed to high-risk areas.

“The current security situation requires measures to ensure that nobody is posted to areas where there are security threats. NYSC should not shy away from its responsibilities and leave parents to struggle with payment of ransom,” he stated.

Sanusi also stressed that the scheme has a duty of care towards corps members throughout the service year.

“They mobilised these young people, so their security and wellbeing should remain the responsibility of NYSC until the end of the programme,” he said.

Kidnapped Corps Member Sparks Outrage

The renewed calls followed the case of a corps member, Musa Abba, from Gusau in Zamfara State, who has reportedly remained in kidnappers’ captivity since January 9.

Abba, a graduate of Plant Science and Biotechnology from the Federal University Gusau, was abducted while travelling to Sokoto to resume his national service.

A video circulating online showed the corps member being beaten by bandits after his family allegedly failed to raise the ₦10 million ransom demanded by the abductors.

Reports also indicated that his family held a burial ceremony for him on March 5 after losing hope of his return. However, the kidnappers later released another video showing him alive but in a weak condition.

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The incident has renewed nationwide concerns about the safety of corps members. In recent years, several corps members and prospective participants have been kidnapped, attacked, or killed while travelling to orientation camps or serving in different states across the country.