I am Dr. Charles Apoki. A trending video of a young Nigerian female NYSC member has caught my attention. In this video, she passionately vents her frustration, shedding tears over the challenges of serving her nation. Her pain is compounded by threats from a woman at the NYSC secretariat. I will use the term “Corper”—though some say it is incorrect—because we all understand it. I was once a Corper myself.
The Hardships of Everyday Nigerians
On Saturday, I sent my security man to buy a drug that used to be called FanCeda, now Sweda. I take it periodically to prevent malaria. What I used to buy for ₦250 in 2023 before the removal of fuel subsidy now costs ₦1,400. I needed two packs—one for my PA and one for myself—totaling nearly ₦3,000. My brother’s wife was sick, but they could not afford hospital treatment. I told her son to go check on her and call me. Our people are suffering; our people are dying.
This NYSC lady is not the only one speaking out. Soldiers have publicly criticized the military for their suffering. Retired police officers have protested at the Ministry of Finance. Nigerian Air Force personnel have even invaded a power company in protest over electricity outages. If armed personnel can protest, why should a young lady, who has been taken from her home to serve her country, be denied the right to speak out?
The Economic Reality: Then vs. Now
I have never worked for the government since I was 27 years old. I will be 66 this April. The only government-related work I ever did was my internship, two years under employment, and my NYSC service in 1985. Back then, our NYSC allowance was ₦200. The exchange rate was ₦0.50 per dollar, meaning my allowance was equivalent to $400. Today, if we were to adjust for inflation and currency devaluation, an NYSC member should be earning between ₦450,000 to ₦600,000 monthly. But instead, they are paid a meager ₦30,000 while politicians live in luxury, sending their children abroad for studies. These people are thieves, wicked, and evil.
How We Lived During NYSC
During my service year, I lived well. I got married and had a child while serving. I was able to save money and, by the end of my NYSC, buy a car with a loan from my hospital. Food was affordable. Twenty cups of garri cost ₦1. A whole chicken from the local government farm was ₦5. Today, Corps members struggle even to afford transportation to their places of primary assignment.
Why should Corps members pay for transport to local government secretariats for routine activities? Where is the money allocated for NYSC members going? If the government has approved a minimum wage of ₦70,000, why are these young people still being paid ₦30,000?
Our Children Are Not Slaves
The young people of today are not mental slaves like us. They are not afraid. One police spokesman once threatened those who insult the government, yet when they arrested a boy for speaking out, people rallied for his release. Our children have been pushed to the wall, and they are ready to fight back.
The Bible says in Ephesians 6:1-4 that children should honor their parents. However, it also commands fathers not to provoke their children to wrath. Many of our leaders do not deserve respect because they have failed in their responsibilities.
The Truth About the Word “Terrible”
The NYSC lady described the country’s situation as “terrible.” What does “terrible” mean? It means awful, dreadful, painful, horrible—extremely bad. She did not insult the president as a person. She simply analyzed the state of the nation. Once you take public office, you are subject to public scrutiny. In democracies worldwide, leaders are criticized and even mocked. In Nigeria, however, leaders cannot tolerate the truth.
The NYSC System Is Failing
The very foundation of national integration that NYSC was meant to achieve has been destroyed by foolish politicians. How can the NYSC threaten Corps members with punishment while failing to protect them from kidnappers? During the Buhari administration, when NYSC members were killed in the North, nothing was done. When Corps members are kidnapped, NYSC says they are “on their own.” Why should our children still serve under such conditions?
If this young lady is my child, I will pull her out of the NYSC immediately and send her abroad for her master’s degree. Many well-meaning Nigerians will mobilize to get her a scholarship. Our children are not slaves. We will not allow them to suffer in silence.
A Warning to the Leaders
Nigerian youth are tired. They are hungry, frustrated, and angry. You cannot flog them into submission anymore. The rich will soon cry, too. You cannot jail everyone, and you cannot silence everyone.
One Tunisian youth set himself on fire out of frustration, leading to the Arab Spring. Nigeria is crawling towards a breaking point. Leaders must act now. If something happens to this NYSC girl, the youth will react, and the consequences will be dire.
If you are a leader in this country, listen to the people’s suffering instead of threatening them. Instead of covering up the fire, find the source and put it out. The future of our nation depends on it.
God bless you.
