The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Friday described reports indicating that it was mobilizing corps members for war as untrue.
Recall that the Director-General of the Scheme, Brigadier General, Shuaibu Ibrahim, while reacting to moves to scrap the NYSC scheme, reportedly said corps members were part of the national defence policy of Nigeria and could be mobilized for war if need be.
The NYSC, however, revealed that Ibrahim never said corps members were being mobilized for war as being reported by some media outlets.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Deputy Director (Publications), Emeka Mgbemena.
The statement read in part, “This is to clarify the misrepresentation of the NYSC Director-General’s recent interview with the media currently trending on the social media.
“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 prayed for the spirit of NYSC to live in all Nigerians.
“General Ibrahim never at any point said that Corps Members are being mobilized to fight a war. The Scheme shall continue to safeguard the interest of Corps Members at all times.”
