The Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to stop posting corps members to insecure states, citing recent deadly attacks and poor safety measures
The Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to suspend the deployment of National Youth Service Corps members to states grappling with widespread insecurity, warning that the lives of young Nigerians must not be risked for the sake of national service.
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PTA National President, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, criticised what he described as a “dangerous and insensitive” practice of sending graduates into regions plagued by insurgency, banditry, and violent attacks.
Danjuma said, “We urge the NYSC Director-General and the government to handle this issue with good conscience.
Before posting corps members to any state, they should ensure there is adequate security. Measures must be in place to protect lives and property. Our children should not be sent to states where insurgents are active.”
His remarks follow renewed public concern after recent deadly attacks in areas where corps members were deployed.
In May, suspected bandits killed at least 15 people during a midnight raid on three villages in the Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Despite the tragedy, the NYSC deployed 1,600 corps members to the state just days later.
In another incident, 1,303 corps members were sworn in at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State, on June 13.
Hours later, over 200 people were massacred in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area, raising questions about the timing and logic behind continued deployments to volatile regions.
Although the Minister of Youth, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, earlier announced that corps members would no longer be posted to “very unsafe” states, the PTA maintains that implementation has fallen short.
Danjuma insisted, “We all know the importance of the NYSC, but it isn’t worth losing their lives over.
We cannot afford to lose any of our children simply because they went for national service.
The government should ensure that corps member deployment is handled with security consciousness. Where necessary, they should even consider using special escorts.”
Beyond violence at destination points, the PTA president also highlighted the dangers posed by long, hazardous travel routes.
According to him, many corps members endure multi-day journeys across poorly secured roads, exposing them to abduction, robbery, and fatal accidents.
“You will see situations where children travel for an entire day, or even two to three days, just to reach their place of deployment.
The government should look into this. They should consider the distance involved and the stress it imposes on our children,” Danjuma said.
The NYSC scheme, established in 1973, is aimed at fostering national unity by sending Nigerian graduates to work in different parts of the country.
However, with rising insecurity across multiple zones, public confidence in the safety of the programme has diminished.
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The Federal Government has yet to respond to the PTA’s latest appeal.