AN INVESTIGATION OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS PROGRAMME AND ITS EFFECT ON NATIONAL INTEGRATION IN NIGERIA

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BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The government's planning and efforts are centered on development. However, growth cannot thrive, particularly in diverse nations, if there is neither peace or national cohesion. The necessity for unification and control of all centrifugal elements in Nigeria immediately following the civil war resulted in the founding of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by Decree No. 24 on May 22, 1973. After the thirty-first month of Nigeria's civil war, an instrument for national rebuilding, reconciliation, and reconstruction was established (Adedayo, 2010). The nation's terrible past necessitated the establishment of the NYSC, which plainly stated that the system was founded "with the purpose of stimulating and strengthening in an appropriate manner the shared bonds between the world's young, Nigeria, and promoting national unity" (NYSC, 2017). Nigeria's diversity, as well as the circumstances that led up to the founding of the NYSC, produced a flood of arguments for and against the regime's survival (Asuka and Igwesi, 2012). With a huge number of ethnic, religious, and political conflicts now engulfing the country, concerns have been raised concerning the NYSC's ability to assist integration as required by the decree and legislation.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has stayed in the headlines of Nigerian national publications. Due to Boko Haram and subsequent terrorist uprisings, the northern half of Nigeria steadily slid into structural chaos, whilst militancy and kidnappings predominated in the south (Amuta, 2012). The topic of whether the NYSC may act in these areas of undeclared and unwanted warfare was posed.

For a number of reasons, most Nigerians question and even oppose young graduates deploying in these increasingly dangerous regions for the NYSC program. Analysts, on the other hand, place a high value on the fact that Youth Corps members have become guinea pigs, while the NYSC program has sadly become a genuine barometer for measuring the level of security in various sections of the country. The nation will be at peace if the members of the body successfully finish their year of duty in their home country.

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Protests over security issues threaten the NYSC system's viability over 40 years after its inception. Protests by NYSC corps members stationed in such areas who worried for their lives owing to Boko Haram insurgency, kidnappings, and violence generated concerns that the NYSC plan would lose its relevance (Banji, 2012). Tensions in the country are rising, and many factions are organizing for reform. Nysc has dispatched recent graduates to various regions of the country for a year of required service. This research would look at graduates who are starting their year of service to learn more about the National Youth Services Corps program and its influence on national integration.

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The general objective of this study is to examine the impact of NYSC programme and its effect on national integration.

The specific objectives are;

1. To have an overview of the of NYSC programme
2. To determine the challenges being faced by the programme and implications for national integration.
3. To examining if the NYSC programme has helped in fostering national integration.
4. It also seeks to ascertain if the NYSC programme serves as a platform to preach peace in Nigeria.

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Hypothesis One

Hi: The NYSC programme has helped in fostering national integration.

Ho: The NYSC programme has not helped in fostering national integration.

Hypothesis Two

Hi: The NYSC programme serves as a platform to preach peace in Nigeria.

Ho: The NYSC programme does not serve as a platform to preach peace in Nigeria.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The ability of the state to resolve or regulate the recurring crises and to create an enabling environment where the people's respect and love for their nation is enhanced would definitely affect the tempo of the national integration positively. National integration a process, leading to political cohesion and sentiments of loyalty toward a central political authority and institutions by individuals belonging to different social groups or political units is an issue of great delight and importance in Nigeria. This study would be useful to government agencies, private individuals and researchers.

1.6   SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study is the critical analysis of the national youth service corps programme and its effects on National integration.

The researcher encountered some constraints, which limited the scope of the study. These constraints include but are not limited to the following:

a) Availability of Research Material: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study

b) Time: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms were used in the course of this study:

National Integration: National integration is the awareness of a common identity amongst the citizens of a country. It means that though citizens belong to different castes, religions, regions and speak different languages, they still recognize themselves as one. This kind of integration is very important in the building of a strong and prosperous nation. National integration can also be seen as the process whereby several desperate groups within a given territorial are united together or cooperate under conditions which do not appear to permit satisfaction of their system needs in any other way.

NYSC:  the NYSC is the national youth service corps, a mandatory one year service to the country after graduating from the university formed in by General Yakubu Gowon after the civil war to enhance National integration and healing in the country.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows Chapter one is concerned with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

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