The Federal government has been urged to look in the direction of scrapping the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC in view of current realities in the country.
The Director of News and Current Affairs, Ondo State Radiovision Corporation, OSRC Akure, Mr Tunde Agbede gave the suggestion on Wednesday at a sent forth ceremony organized by the department in honour of an outgoing corps member in the corporation, Kehinde Agbaje.
While praising the vision of the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, RTD for setting up the scheme, Mr Agbede was however of the view that events in the country have necessitated the urgent need for it to be reviewed espoecially with the discouraging security and economic challenges starring the country in the face.
According to him, " It is hight time the federal government revisited the issue of NYSC. The way it's been done nowadays, the scheme seems to have lost it's focus. Federal govt needs to redouble its efforts and see that the safety and sanctity of life cannot be compromised at any point in time.
"Of recent, economic recession is also affecting the scheme. I remember during our time, we were less than 1000 that participated, but today, we have many graduates participating.
The veteran journalist therefore recommended the need to reduce the age of graduate who will be taking part in the scheme to 25 years in other to minimize the financial burden on the federal government.
"If they can no longer continue, they should reduce the age. Any graduate that is above 25 years should be exempted. It is uncalled for to delay graduates at home for a year or two before being mobilized. The most pathetic is that they can neither secure job nor go for masters programme without NYSC certificate.
"So am suggesting to the federal govt to bring down the age. And if they know that the programme has outlived its purpose, it should be scrapped", Agbede advocated.
On the celebrated corps member, Agbede said Kehinde contributeed immensely to the growth of the News department during his service year.
He therefore advised the remaining coppers and interns in the department to borrow a leaf from Kehinde who despite not being paid a kobo displayed high level of commitment and dedication.
For the deputy director, News and Current Affairs, Mr Sunday Ajongbolo and it's Programmes counterpart, Alhaji Ishaq Akinkunmi, Kehinde's story was that of hardwork, commitment and dedication.
They equally implored other corps members and interns to follow his foot steps.
The corporation's Public Relations Officer, Mrs Yinka Ajayi, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, OSRC chapel, Mr Sola Obagbemisoye and other senior officers in the department praised Kehinde for being a worthy ambassador of his family.
Responding, the celebrant, Kehinde Agbaje thanked the department for the honour done him, noting that the gesture would spurr him to always do his best where ever he finds himself.
Kehinde, a graduate of Mass Communication from Bowen University in Osun state was one of the 2015/16 batch B corps members.
See faces at the ceremony......
