Many Nigerians are outraged by a widely shared image of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member bowing before his Local Government Inspector (LGI), which they have denounced as an intimidation tactic and abuse of power.
The image has sparked intense discussions over the treatment of corps members since it was first posted on Facebook on March 16 by a user going by the name Waltino. Waltino alluded to the difficulties corps members encounter in his caption, writing, “This is what we are passing through but if we talk now.” Since then, the incident has drawn criticism from a large number of social media users who contend that a university graduate shouldn’t have to endure such treatment.
While some commenters have referred to the behaviour as bullying, others have questioned NYSC’s applicability and demanded immediate program modifications. This scandal comes after another NYSC-related event in which a female corps member in Lagos said that after criticising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over inflation and economic hardship, she was threatened by the NYSC board.
The power dynamics inside NYSC have been the subject of a great deal of criticism on the internet. While some readers have criticised the corper for following the order to kneel, others have criticised NYSC authorities of abusing their power. Discussions around whether the NYSC program still accomplishes its goals have been further stoked by the photograph.
Many Nigerians are demanding accountability and improved treatment of corps members as the reaction intensifies, and they are pleading with officials to solve structural problems in the NYSC organisation.
CREDIT: ALLSCHOOL, Allschoolabs
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