by Demilade Osoteku

Over the past weeks, there has been lots of opinions on the NYSC online call-up letters fee for prospective corps members. While I personally support the improvement because I wish the improvement was available during my time, I join my force with that of lots of Nigerians who feel that the said sum is exorbitant.

A good idea will always pay for itself. While it is a lofty idea that corps members have the flexibility of printing their call up letters online, it is not a win-win case for all parties. It may seem to be a relief for persons who domicile in one end of the country and schooled at another end; it will be nothing more than cheating for anyone who domicile in the same location as their school.

The real aim of public-private partnership is not the eventual creation of monopoly for a single company as would be the case of Sidmatech over time but that of encouraging competition. Competition which is the language of the private sector will ultimately increase the value being put forward by individual players. Partnerships like this could lead to improvement of services and value offering over time.

My recommendation is that the online registration process like any aspect of change should be gradual. Gradual in the sense that, if the online process proves more advantage for prospective corps members, they’ll naturally abandon the traditional process. Consequently, it is suggested that the online collection of call-up letters process be made voluntary. Not voluntary for the upcoming Batch C alone and compulsory as from the Batch A of 2015 but voluntary until only a significant few use the traditional means.

My recommendation is that the online registration process like any aspect of change should be gradual. Gradual in the sense that, if the online process proves more advantage for prospective corps members, they’ll naturally abandon the traditional process.

The resultant effect of this will be great in that it will be a win-win situation for all parties involved: NYSC, Sidmatech and the prospective corps members. NYSC will still have the option of complete or partial digitalization of the mobilization process as well as the reputation of being possible the only MDA in Nigeria that provides alternatives to the people it serves. Sidmatech may be the worst hit buy this recommendation as they may have to extend the pay-back period of their investment howbeit, their solution is actually targeted at those persons who will prefer getting their call up letters online, and that market will be served. For the prospective corps members, there is no better thing than the availability of choice; these corps members will have to choose whether to get their call up letters online or traditionally.

Taking a cue from JAMB, two streams of examinations are done. The first being offline called the Paper Based test and the second being the Computer Based Test. JAMB may have simple cancelled the Paper Based Test because it found a new love, the Computer Based Test. Rather, JAMB subscribed to the gradual change approach and changes have been noted as there is a gradual shift from the offline examination to the online examination.

Until NYSC attains this form of gradual progress, the change they seek may be too harsh for Nigerians to adapt to.

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Demilade Isaac Osoteku is Libertarian in Training, tech and media enthusiast. He chronicles his NYSC experience at www.kopasTales.com and gets serious on www.spectacles.com.ng

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