The National Alliance for Democracy (NAD) has called on former Heads of State, General Yakubu Gowon, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, to intervene in the ongoing reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), warning that any changes to the scheme must not undermine its founding objective of promoting national unity and integration.

The group said the intervention of the elder statesmen had become necessary following the Federal Executive Council’s approval of far-reaching reforms aimed at repositioning the 52-year-old scheme for greater relevance in a changing national environment.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the National Convener of NAD, Dr. Lucky Eremosele, appealed to the former leaders to engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ensure that the reform process is guided by national interest rather than expediency.

According to him, while there is no objection to modernising the NYSC, any reform that weakens its role as a platform for fostering national cohesion could have unintended consequences for the country’s unity.

“General Yakubu Gowon and our former Heads of State have a historic responsibility to protect the NYSC as one of Nigeria’s enduring symbols of unity. We call on them to engage President Tinubu and ensure that the ongoing reforms strengthen rather than weaken the scheme,” Eremosele said.

He noted that the NYSC was established in 1973 by the Gowon administration as part of post-civil war reconciliation efforts to encourage interaction among young Nigerians from different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.

“The proposed changes, while presented as efforts to modernise the scheme, must not dilute its primary objective of promoting national integration. National interest must remain paramount in every decision concerning the future of the NYSC,” he added.

The group expressed concern that some of the proposed reforms, including increased emphasis on specialised career streams, technology-driven mobilisation and possible adjustments to orientation and deployment arrangements, could reduce opportunities for corps members to interact across regional and ethnic divides.

NAD argued that the country’s current security and socio-political realities make the NYSC more relevant than ever, insisting that reforms should reinforce, rather than diminish, its nation-building role.

It also called for broader consultations involving former leaders, traditional rulers, youth organisations, civil society groups, education stakeholders and the founding generation before the reforms are fully implemented.

“We appeal to General Gowon, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and other elder statesmen to provide the wisdom and historical perspective needed to guide this important national conversation. Their counsel will help ensure that the reform process serves the long-term interests of Nigeria,” Eremosele stated.

The group maintained that although President Tinubu‘s administration may be driven by a genuine desire to improve opportunities for young Nigerians, the experience of those who nurtured the NYSC over the decades remains invaluable.

According to the alliance, the scheme has made significant contributions to national development by exposing graduates to different cultures, promoting inter-ethnic understanding and supporting education, healthcare and community development across the country.

It therefore urged the Federal Government to ensure that any review also prioritises the welfare, security and safety of corps members without compromising the programme’s original philosophy.

NAD warned that reforms perceived as weakening the NYSC’s unifying character could erode public confidence in one of Nigeria’s most enduring nation-building institutions.

“Any reform must pass the test of national interest. We support progressive reforms that improve the welfare, safety and productivity of corps members, but such reforms must preserve the soul of the NYSC as a vehicle for national unity,” Eremosele said.

He added that the intervention of Gowon, Babangida and Abdulsalami would provide the moral authority and statesmanship required to ensure that the reform process strengthens the scheme while preserving its founding ideals.

The alliance also commended generations of corps members for their sacrifices and contributions to national development, expressing confidence that with wider consultation and careful planning, the NYSC can be repositioned to meet contemporary realities without losing its historic mission of promoting unity among Nigerians.