The Federal Government has debunked alleged plans to make the one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme optional.

The Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, made this known at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

Dare said the rationale behind the establishment of the scheme in 1973 was the need to promote unity in the country.

He stated that the livewire of any nation is its youths, adding that “once you captured their patriotism, that can spread cross”.

“The rationale behind establishing the NYSC by Gen. Yakubu Gowon still subsists, as every country and even Nigeria is still on a daily basis promoting its unity in diversity,” the minister said.

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Dare disclosed that a committee to organise the celebration of the NYSC at 50 in May 2023 would be inaugurated on Wednesday, adding: “With all the testimonies, no one will subscribe to scraping or even making the scheme optional.”

The minister stated that the scheme was looking forward to carrying out some reforms that would further add value to it.

“Reform is a constant thing, the NYSC is looking at some reforms; we had challenges with those in the diaspora, certain aspects of whether you can serve or not have been there.

“The NYSC is working to make sure that those areas that are faulty about the laws are addressed.

“There is a solid database that would detect if a graduate has fake certificate or not,” he added.

Speaking on the recent removal of Brig-Gen. Muhammad Fadah as the NYSC Director-General, Dare said it was central to Nigerian youths, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari would not allow anything that would destroy the scheme.

Fadah was removed in November barely six months after he assumed office in May 2022.

The Star