Recently, the Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Olawande Wisdom, hinted that the federal government is planning to launch a training scheme equivalent to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for graduates of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE).
According to him, the programme is designed to offer NCE graduates state-based training and development, which allows them to serve within their home states rather than relocating for service.
Under this arrangement, the ministry will work with the Federal Ministry of Education to implement these training reforms to meet the needs of Nigerian youth. The new scheme will also enhance the employability of NCE graduates by equipping them with valuable skills and experiences that are crucial in the job market.
As a newspaper, we believe the proposed scheme is an unnecessary duplication that may not serve the nation well. Besides, it is not what the target beneficiaries need at this critical time when the federal government claims to lack the resources to meet other obligations to the citizens.
Furthermore, we consider the plan wasteful and a departure from the policy of reducing the size of government and cutting costs. This is even so as the government pretends to be in the process of merging several agencies through the implementation of the Oronsaye Report.
It is cogent to point out that the reasons adduced for this move are as untenable as they are explicitly unacceptable. The claim that the programme aims to equip NCE graduates with the necessary skills to become good citizens deserves deeper interrogation. Are Nigerians being told that the NCE graduates are not good citizens and need a one-year programme to clean them up? However, we assert that being a good citizen depends not solely on a government-organised training programme. The values of citizenship are instilled through quality education, family, and community relations, not through a costly and unnecessary initiative that we suspect is geared towards enriching the pockets of the promoters.
We also consider it absurd that even as Nigeria grapples with economic challenges, some government agencies are scheming to flinch the system. The government must not yield to this spendthrift. The funds to be allocated for this initiative could be better utilised to address other pressing issues, such as infrastructure development, healthcare, and education.
Furthermore, NCE graduates are already equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute meaningfully to society. They have undergone rigorous academic training and can make positive impacts in their respective fields. In case the minister is not aware, these are trained teachers, with teaching practice as part of their training and who are highly sought after in our school system, where their services are urgently needed. If the minister wants Nigerians to believe that the training the graduates received in the colleges was wishy-washy and needed upgrading, he should come out clear. Otherwise, the scheme as planned ought to be dead on arrival.
Moreover, this decision highlights the need for government officials to think outside the box and engage in meaningful consultations with the citizenry on issues that affect them and how they use their taxes. The government needs to involve stakeholders and consider diverse perspectives before making decisions that impact the nation.
We urge the federal government to reconsider this initiative and focus on more pressing priorities. Nigeria does not need a national training programme for NCE graduates to become good citizens. Instead, we need a government that prioritises effective governance, economic growth, and sustainable development.
Moreover, experience has shown that creating new agencies in Nigeria often expands and enlarges corruption frontiers. These agencies frequently serve as conduit pipes for embezzlement and misappropriation of funds. We cannot afford to create another avenue for corruption to thrive.
If there is a genuine need for a national training programme for NCE graduates, we recommend that they be integrated into the existing NYSC scheme. They used to be part of it anyway. The NYSC already has the structure and human capital in place, making it an ideal platform for such training. This approach would eliminate the need for additional funding and minimise the propensity to create jobs for the boys just for the sake of it.
We posit that the proposed training programme for NCE graduates will entail needless expenses that Nigeria cannot afford at this time given the parlous state of the economy. Therefore, we reject this initiative and call on the government to also reject the proposal. The NCE graduates received professional training. The statutory body that regulates the teaching profession should be allowed to do its job of assessing the graduates and attesting to their suitability or otherwise for the career they have chosen and which their grooming seemingly prepared them for.
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