5 Winning Debate Points: The NYSC Scheme Has Outlived Its Usefulness
Good day, students!
Looking for the winning points for your next debate? You’ve come to the right place.
Today, we are tackling a very controversial and serious topic in Nigeria: “The NYSC Scheme Has Outlived Its Usefulness.” As the Chief Speaker (or supporting speaker) for this motion, your job is to convince the judges that while the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had a good vision in 1973, it has now become a burden, a death trap, and a waste of time in the 21st century.
In this post, I’m going to give you a complete debate script that you can copy, practice, and use to silence your opponents. We aren’t here to disrespect the scheme; we are here to state the hard facts about why it needs to go.
This article provides debate points solely for educational purposes to support the motion “The NYSC Scheme Has Outlived Its Usefulness.” It is not meant to diminish the historical value of the scheme.
Winning Debate Points on Why The NYSC Scheme Has Outlived Its Usefulness
Here are my top arguments. When you get to the podium, speak with confidence, look the judges in the eye, and use these exact words.
1. The Scheme Has Become a Security Risk, Not a Unity Tool
My first point is the most painful one: Safety.
In 1973, you could travel from Lagos to Borno by road without fear. Today, can we say the same? We cannot pretend that the security situation in Nigeria hasn’t changed. Sending a young graduate to a volatile region where they don’t know the language or the terrain is no longer “national integration”—it is a suicide mission.
We have heard too many sad stories of corps members losing their lives to banditry, kidnapping, and road accidents on bad roads. If the government cannot guarantee the safety of these graduates, then the mandatory posting is unjust. According to an Al Jazeera report on Nigeria’s youth corps, the risk to life has become the single biggest criticism of the program. Is national unity worth the blood of innocent graduates? I say no.
2. It Has Turned Graduates into “Cheap Labour” for Private Companies
Let’s talk about the economic reality.
Originally, NYSC was meant to foster community development. But today? It has become a way for private schools and companies to avoid employing permanent staff. Why hire a qualified teacher and pay them a proper salary when you can get a “Corper” for peanuts or even for free?
This practice kills the job market. It increases unemployment because companies know that every year, a fresh batch of cheap labour is coming from the camp. Instead of solving unemployment, the scheme is actually masking it. We are being used as stop-gap workers, not being trained for the future. Just like we discussed in our guide on career choices, graduates need real jobs, not temporary underemployment.
3. The One-Year Delay Wastes Valuable Economic Time
Time is money. In the modern world, a one-year gap is a lifetime.
While our counterparts in other parts of the world are entering the workforce, starting businesses, or going for their Master’s degrees at age 21, Nigerian graduates are forced to pause their lives for one year. And for what? To often sit in a local government office doing nothing?
That one year could be used to learn coding, start a trade, or gain actual work experience that pays. For a student who already struggled through strikes and delays in the university, adding another compulsory year of “service” that doesn’t guarantee a job afterwards is frustrating. It delays our entry into the real economy.
4. It No Longer Fosters True Unity (The “Redeployment” Racketeering)
My opponent will tell you that NYSC unites us. But let’s be honest with ourselves. Does it?
Maybe it did in the past. But today, the system is broken. The wealthy and connected influence their postings to Lagos, Abuja, or Port Harcourt. They “work it” so they don’t have to serve in remote villages. Who is left to go to the remote areas? The children of the poor.
When a scheme becomes “cash and carry” for favorable postings, the spirit of unity is dead. If we are not all serving equally, then the scheme has lost its moral foundation. It teaches corruption rather than patriotism.
5. The Funds Could Be Better Spent on Infrastructure and Grants
Think about the billions of Naira the government spends on feeding, kitting, and paying monthly allowances to thousands of corps members every year.
Now, imagine if that money was used differently. Imagine if every graduate was given that total sum as a “business startup grant” upon graduation instead of spreading it over 12 months for mere survival. That would create entrepreneurs!
We don’t need a marching parade; we need capital. We don’t need khaki; we need power supply and good roads. The scheme is an expensive relic of the past that is draining resources that could fix our education or health sector. As I mentioned in my article on why education is better than money, strategic investment is better than wasteful spending.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What if my opponent says NYSC helps people travel and know their country? A: Counter this by saying: “Travel is good, but it should be voluntary and safe.” You can visit another state for tourism or business without being forced to live there for a year under dangerous conditions.
Q: How do I conclude without sounding unpatriotic? A: Simple. State that you love Nigeria, but true patriotism is wanting the best for your country’s youth. Scrapping NYSC to save lives and improve the economy is a patriotic act.
Q: Where can I find more tips on starting my speech? A: You should definitely check out [my step-by-step guide on how to start a debate]. It gives you the perfect opening lines to grab the judges’ attention.
Conclusion / Summary
In summary, the NYSC was a hero in the 70s, but it is a tired old man today.
-
It risks lives (Insecurity).
-
It kills full-time jobs (Cheap Labour).
-
It wastes time (Economic Delay).
-
It is corruption-riddled (Redeployment scams).
We must be brave enough to admit when a good thing has served its purpose. It is time to retire the scheme and replace it with something that fits the 21st century.
This article supports the motion “The NYSC Scheme Has Outlived Its Usefulness” for academic debate purposes. The NYSC remains a legal requirement in Nigeria.
What do you think? Is it time to scrap it, or should we just revamp it? Drop your opinions in the comments section below… Also, feel free to share this post with your coursemates or those in your debate team!
