The National President of the Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria, Haruna Danjuma, has called on the Federal Government to consider scrapping the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program if it fails to provide adequate security for corps members. His statement comes in the wake of alarming reports of kidnappings, killings, and attacks occurring in various regions of Nigeria, raising serious concerns about the safety of young graduates who serve in this mandatory scheme.

Danjuma articulated the profound fear and sorrow among parents regarding the potential dangers that their children face during the NYSC program, which is obligatory for university graduates. He emphasized that the emotional toll on parents who invest in their children's education is significant, particularly when they contemplate the possibility of their child being kidnapped or harmed while serving their national duty. The PTA president expressed disbelief that a system designed for youth service could expose them to life-threatening situations without sufficient protective measures in place.

In his discussion with Sunday PUNCH, Danjuma made it clear that the government bears a heavy responsibility for the safety of corps members given the compulsory nature of the NYSC. The expectation is that if the state cannot safeguard the participants in this program, then serious reconsiderations about its viability should take place, emphasizing the critical need for reforms and enhanced security to protect these young individuals during their service year.