Ṣé ẹ óò ṣe àtúnṣe sí NYSC tàbí kí ẹ fagi lé e?

As we mark the 50th anniversary of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nigeria, we are reminded that the scheme remains one of the most significant policies ever conceived in the country. We must also acknowledge and give credit to General Yakubu Gowon for introducing this brilliant idea aimed at consolidating national unity after the bitter memories of the tragic Nigerian civil war. Unity, which is also my agenda as a politician, is essential to building a strong country because a divided country is a weakened country. I also use this opportunity to call on politicians, religious leaders and other opinion leaders to continue to encourage unity among the people because disunity feeds hate, which in turn, feeds conflicts. We should always make utterances that promote love and unity and avoid statements that stoke bitter divisions and intolerance. At the same time, I urge a review of the mandate of the NYSC scheme to reflect the demands of the current reality. -AA

We would have been guided by my robust reform agenda as encapsulated in 'My Covenant With Nigerians', my policy document that sought to, among others, protect our fragile economy against much deeper crisis by preventing business collapse; our document had spelt out policies that were consistent and coherent. We would have sequenced my reforms to achieve fiscal and monetary congruence. Unleashing reforms to determine an appropriate exchange rate, cost-reflective electricity tariff, and PMS price at one and the same time is certainly an overkill. Add CBN’s bullish money tightening spree. As importers of PMS and other petroleum products, removing subsidy on these products without a stable exchange rate would be counterproductive. We would have been more strategic in our response to reform fallout. We would not over-estimate the efficacy of the reform measures or underestimate the potential costs of reforms. I would recognise that reforms could sometimes fail. I would not underestimate the numerous delivery challenges, including the weaknesses of our institutions, and would work assiduously to correct the same. I would, as a responsible leader, pause, reflect, and where necessary, review implementation.

I would have led by example. Any fiscal reform to improve liquidity and the management of our fiscal resources must first eliminate revenue leakages arising from governance, including the cost of running the government and the government procurement process. I (and members of my team) would not have lived in luxury while the citizens wallow in misery. We would have communicated more effectively with the people, with civility, tact, and diplomacy. Transparent communication with the public is essential to build public trust, which in turn is important to ensure that the public understands what the government is doing. We would have consulted more with all stakeholders to learn, negotiate, adapt, and modify, among other policy goals. We would have demonstrated more empathy. My Reforms would wear a human face. We would have been more strategic in the design and implementation of reform fallout mitigating measures. I would not run a ‘palliative economy’ yet, we would have robust social protection programme that will offer genuine support to the poor and vulnerable and provide immediate comfort and security to enable them to navigate the stormy seas.

Third, adopt a gradualist approach in the implementation of the subsidy reforms. Subsidies would not have been removed suddenly and completely. It is instructive that when I was Vice President, we adopted a gradualist approach and had completed phases 1 and 2 of the reform before our tenure ended. The incoming administration in 2007 abandoned the reforms, unfortunately. The majority of the countries that review or rationalize subsidy payments adopt a gradualist approach by phasing price increases or shifting from universal to targeted approach (Malaysia, 2022 and Indonesia, 2022 -2023). In many EU economies, complete withdrawal often takes 5 years to effect. The gradualist approach allows for adjustments, adaptation and minimizes disruptions and vulnerability. Fourth, implement a robust social protection programme that will support the poor in navigating the cost-of-living challenges arising largely from reform implementation. We would’ve invested the savings from subsidy withdrawal to strengthen the productive base of the economy through infrastructure maintenance and development; to improve outcomes in education and healthcare delivery; to improve rural infrastructure and support livelihood expansion in agriculture; and develop the skills and entrepreneurial capacity of our youth in order to enhance their access to better economic opportunities.

Dear Fellow Nigerians, I extend my compliments of the season as we welcome the New Year, 2026. For millions of long-suffering Nigerians, the only consolation is that 2025, one of the most punishing years in our recent history, has come to an end. It was a year defined by economic suffocation, political recklessness, and governance without empathy under the All Progressives Congress (@OfficialAPCNg) administration. The past year exposed, in stark terms, the incompetence and policy bankruptcy of President Bola Tinubu. Governing for months without a functional budget, the administration relied on propaganda while borrowing recklessly, pushing the nation to the brink of economic collapse. Nothing better captures the decay of this government than the scandal of a forged tax law, shamelessly branded a “reform.” Even more disturbing was the President’s refusal to allow due legislative and legal processes to address what is clearly a criminal act.

● Create feedback systems that allow communities to report challenges and hold authorities accountable 4. Improve quality of teaching and learning Ensure that children are not just in school, but are learning. Specifics: We will focus on teacher quality, curriculum relevance, and learning outcomes. Examples: ● Recruit, train, and properly compensate teachers to improve motivation and performance ● Introduce continuous teacher training and performance evaluation systems ● Update curricula to include digital skills, critical thinking, and practical knowledge ● Provide learning materials and digital tools to improve classroom experience ● Monitor learning outcomes through standardized assessments 5. Reform the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, for relevance and impact We will reposition the NYSC to reflect current national needs, expand opportunities for young people, and strengthen its contribution to national development.