Compulsory National Service and Human Rights in Nigeria: A Study of NYSC in a Constitutional Democracy
Author
Dr Lugard A. Emokpae
Abstract
The National Youth Service Corps Scheme is considered an infringement of the constitutional rights of Nigerian citizens as guaranteed in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). The compulsory character of the NYSC demonstrates a complete breach of personal liberty, dignity of the human person, freedom of movement, freedom from discrimination, and freedom of choice of employment. The scheme, which was conceived as a national policy in 1973 as a post-war reconciliation effort, has grossly become a shadow of itself. The scheme is outdated in relation to present realities; it has also eroded all social and economic values necessary for growth. This paper contends that public service objectives, no matter how desirable, cannot be lawfully pursued through coercive and statutory mechanisms like the NYSC, which defies all constitutional human rights norms. This paper adopts the doctrinal model of research, which incorporates the use of library resources and journals. It posits that the continued requirement of NYSC for employment into public service in the Nigerian administrative system will further deteriorate the sense of inclusiveness in national harmony. If it is believed that public service is a call to serve the nation, then the NYSC requirement must be unbundled from the system entirely to avoid duplication. The paper concludes that the NYSC is detrimental to national harmony and must be jettisoned.
Keywords
Public Service, NYSC, Nigerian Constitution, Human Right
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