SEN. David Mark Seeks For The Extension Of NIGERIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS To Two Years.

The Senate President, David
Mark, has called on the
federal government to
elongate the one year
compulsory National Youth
Service Scheme to two years.
He made the call in Abuja
when he addressed the 125
National Defence College
(NDC) participant's course
18 graduates and their
directing staff. He said the
additional one year should be
devoted to military training.
Mr Mark argued that the
current three-week
orientation program is "just
inadequate." He suggested
that, in addition to the
military training, the first
year should also be devoted
to training the graduates in
discipline, national interest,
values and inculcation of
patriotism, ideals of
nationhood and development.
"I believe that when we get
our national interest and
values right with proper
discipline among the youth
and commitment to our
fatherland, the ingredients
needed for national survival,
and the malaise in our
society would have been
erased," he said.
Nigeria currently practices a
scheme where all graduates
of tertiary institutions
below the age of 30
compulsorily give one year of
service to the nation. The
corps members are posted to
a state different from their
home state and state of
residence. The scheme was
initiated after the civil war,
to encourage national
integration.
Defence university
The Senate President also
called on the federal
government to upgrade the
NDC to a defence university.
He argued that the
achievements of the NDC and
its curriculum meet global
standards for a university,
and have adequately
prepared the institution for
the upgrade.
The National Defence
College was formerly the
National War College and the
Senate President was one of
the founding directing staff
of the institution at its
inception in 1992. He was
also part of the lawmakers
that amended the act
establishing the NWC to NDC.
"We don't need war, but a
strong defence force that
would propel national
development," he added.
He also called for adequate
funding of the armed forces
to back up our democracy,
saying, "A strong democracy
requires strong defence." On
the recent amendment of the
constitution, Mr Mark said
the National Assembly has
fulfilled one of the cardinal
promises made to Nigerians
at its inauguration in 2007.
"We started with electoral
reforms because it will form
the basis for free, fair and
credible elections Nigerians
are yarning for."
Eight other African
countries: Togo, Lesotho,
Ghana, Republic of Niger,
Chad, Sierra Leone and
Zambia participated in the
intensive military and
academic program that
lasted 47 weeks.

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Na wa ooo!