NYSC clarifies DG’s comments on mobilising corpers for war

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has clarified a statement by its Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim that corps members can be mobilised for war should the need arise.

The clarification came in a Friday statement, after Ibrahim’s comment generated controversy, especially on social media.

Recall that Ibrahim on Thursday stated that corps members could be mobilised should Nigeria be involved in a serious war because they are part of the nation’s defence policy.

“Corps members are on reserve. They are part of the national defense policy of this country. So, where there is serious war, our corps members are educated, they are knowledgeable and they can be trained.

“You see the drill and so on. You can imagine within the short three weeks in the orientation camps, the corps members are moulded. They are like soldiers. You see female corps members blowing the army horn, playing with the military band.

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“So, if not for the knowledge, where are you going to mobilise such young Nigerians to train them quickly to put in their best for the country? So, corps members are on reserve. They are also part of the national defence policy,” the NYSC DG said.

In its clarification, the corps said that the DG’s comment should not be misrepresented.

It said that no corps member was being mobilised.

“This is to clarify the misrepresentation of the NYSC Director-General’s recent interview with the media currently trending on the social media,” it read.

“The director-general had stated that in line with the National Defence Policy, corps members are like soldiers on reserve, because their education, exposure and sophistication, can make them easily adaptable to military training.

“He charged them to remain focused and patriotic; and for the spirit of NYSC to live in all Nigerians.

“General Ibrahim never at any point said that corps members are being mobilised to fight war. The scheme shall continue to safeguard the interest of Corps Members at all times,” NYSC’s statement read.