A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese has urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend the recently approved reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for further review.

Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency and serves as Deputy Spokesman of the 10th House of Representatives, raised concerns that the proposed changes could alter the traditional objectives of the scheme.

In a letter addressed to the President and later reported in the media, the lawmaker said he was motivated by what he described as a need to preserve the NYSC’s longstanding role in promoting national unity.

He urged the Federal Government to pause implementation of the reforms and set up a broad-based committee to examine their potential impact on national integration and youth development.

“It is with a deep sense of patriotic duty and concern for national cohesion that I write,” Agbese stated.

He noted that the reforms, presented as efforts to modernise the scheme, include changes such as a transition to civilian leadership, extension of the orientation camp duration, modification of the NYSC uniform, introduction of a structured training curriculum, skills-based deployment, automation of mobilisation processes, and formal graduation ceremonies.

Agbese expressed reservations about some of these proposals, particularly the planned shift from military to civilian leadership, which he said may require careful consideration in relation to operational coordination and security support.

He also raised concerns about the proposed skills-based deployment model, suggesting it could influence how corps members are distributed across different parts of the country, and recommended further assessment of its implications for national integration.

On the issue of the NYSC uniform, the lawmaker noted that any changes should take into account the symbolic value of the current attire in promoting a sense of shared identity among participants.

Agbese further questioned the extension of the orientation camp from three to six weeks, citing possible financial and logistical implications, and called for a cost-benefit evaluation.

He reiterated that the NYSC, established in 1973, has historically served as a platform for fostering unity and cross-cultural understanding among Nigerian youths, and emphasised the need to ensure that any reforms align with this objective.

The lawmaker appealed to President Tinubu to consider setting up a multi-disciplinary committee comprising relevant stakeholders to review the proposals and provide recommendations.

He added that reforms to the scheme should prioritise the welfare, safety, and overall development of corps members while preserving the programme’s core mandate.

The Federal Executive Council had earlier approved the reforms as part of broader efforts to reposition the NYSC to meet evolving national needs. (The Nation:, excluding headline)