WHAT THEY DON’T TELL YOU ABOUT THE NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORP (NYSC)
National Youth Service Corp (NYSC)-an organization set up by the Nigerian government to involve the country’s graduates in the development of the country. Youths from different parts of the country are posted to states they probably never thought of going in their life to carry out a 1 year assignment in a particular location of that state,these locations are called ‘Place of Primary Assignment’ (PPA) Sounds Classified right? Well, sorry to disappoint you, its simply an organization or establishment, mostly schools where you are supposed to report to and work in. These Corp members are paid a monthly salary of 19, 800 Naira by the Government in the course of their 1 year service to their country.(The money usually finishes before it comes into your account-It does nothing, but I’m sure the government knows that) The major aim of the scheme is to foster unity, peace and progress among the various ethnic groups in Nigeria and to instill in the Nigerian Youth, a tradition of industry at work, and of patriotic and loyal service to Nigeria in any situation they may find themselves. (Under the sun or in the rain)
That is all you are told! and it’s very boring and unexciting.
This is what actually happens…
You anticipate to serve your country, you wait to be mobilized. When you finally do, you register online and begin to prepare. Northerners run away from being posted to the South and Southerners run away from going to the North. (So much for ethnic unification)But the NYSC Scheme has a way of surprising individuals by posting some southerners to the North and some Northerners to the south. This usually comes with wails and tears at cyber cafes, before you go all Olivia Pope on the issue, looking for ways out of it.
Abuja, Lagos and Rivers State close off faster than other states because everyone wants to serve there. ‘Abuja’ because it is the state capital of Nigeria and simply beautiful, (For some Ladies- A ground for potential maga) ‘Lagos’ because its the economic state of Nigeria and filled with opportunities, Port Harcourt, well, because its an oil producing state in Nigeria and everyone assumes ‘oil money’ will be lying around in the streets (They usually get disappointed when they come and see that the closest they get to oil is when they buy groundnut oil)
You get to a different state, a different environment, a different culture. If you like the state, you smile like a chicken all the way to the camp ground(A place where youths from different parts of the country report to -Kind of like a meeting ground in their states of service, before they are sent off to their respective PPAs). If you dislike the state, you begin to think of ways to redeploy as well as what General Yakubu Gowon was thinking when he formed the scheme!
Most times, it all changes for the better after spending two weeks in camp (The fun part of the scheme)because now, you’ve made new friends.(If you couldn’t get yourself to make new friends or enjoy your time in camp, well, Gowon’s decision is the least of your problems).
While in camp, You meet new people, you meet tall, short, average, fat, ‘not-so-fat’, slim, etc. Smelly, not-smelly, kind, wicked, weird, abnormal etc. You make friends, Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, etc Non-ethnic/foreign students (They can’t speak any Nigerian Language to save their life, but they know how to speak English Language). Well done ma!
You learn ‘come’ and ‘go’ in another language other than yours, then you begin to feel like you are a part of that culture. (I mean, is it easy to say ‘come’ and ‘go’ in another language?)
You ‘parade’ the shit out of your life or if you are smart enough, you find ways to dodge it. (You didn’t hear it from me). Soldiers call you all sorts of names that you wouldn’t take from anyone on a normal day. Names like, Otondo! White Fowl! etc Hold on, you are also expected to look and behave like these names. You wear your white shorts and white blouse and jump around like a white fowl all in the name of ‘doubling up’. Then you say ‘YES SIR’ to everything like an Otondo(A person void of sense). I can’t say the consequences of saying ‘NO SIR’. (Someone should try it out and let me know please).
You take several trips to mami market (A market found within the confines of the camp ground. It is supposed to have everything you could need to survive) Supposed’ I said- It means, It probably wouldn’t. But you will survive, because that’s basically how everything works in Nigeria.
Note: Things in this market are expensive because the sellers know you have no way of getting it outside as no one is allowed outside the gate of the camp for 2 weeks. If you are a Lady and you are lucky enough to catch stupid boys that will fall in love with you for 2 weeks, long enough to pay for everything you buy in mami, fine! If you don’t, you follow your rich friends or simply pay out of your own pocket, PRUDENTLY. The key is to be SMART! Whoever you are, or choose to be, you must eventually take a trip to the market, even if it’s to slim-fit the oversize Khaki given to you on the registration day, never mind that you were asked to fill out the size of your clothes during the online registration.
During the last week of the camping period, PPA and redeployment becomes the issue. The former, if you are staying in the state, (Nobody wants to be posted to a remote part of the state, unless of course you are on a Missionary/National service), the latter, if you are leaving for a place of your choosing after camp for reasons best know to you. (This is the period you begin to hear names of diseases and disabilities you never knew existed simply because people are looking for strong medical reasons to redeploy)
Corp members begin to run around for connections (This is where I warn you to be careful). So many people are hungry in this country, extortion is now a profession.
PPAs are revealed to the corp members on the last day of camp. (Unless of course you are connected, then you already know where you are going to be posted to. In fact, you probably know what your salary is going to be) Don’t Joke with Nigerians!
You say goodbye to early morning and evening parades that usually start at the very minute you want to sleep, rants by soldiers with microphone voices that almost gives you a heart attack, the sound of the bugle piercing your ear drums, the white shorts and blouse that makes you look like a leghorn chicken. If its your first time in the state and you have no friends or relative there, the churches have ‘family houses’ that accommodate corp members. You smile to the buses and out of the camp ground if your PPA is in the developed part of the state. You cry or frown your face if your PPA is in the remote part of the state. (Don’t be too sad, you are serving your country) — Load of Crap.
Service begins and the fun reduces, no more hostel gossip with friends and waking up from bed knowing you have nothing serious to do. You report to your PPA with your rejection or acceptance letter, if its the former (You begin to look for another PPA or you report back to your Local Government of service). If it’s the latter, (good for you) you start work.
Monthly clearance and Weekly CDS days begin…Mine is Editorial Board(Father of camp’s Orientation Broadcasting Service(OBS) and breeding ground for potential Nigerian Leaders) details will continue in the next post!
