As the Federal Government reforms the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and designs a new uniform for the service, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has reminded the authorities of the need for decency and inclusiveness in the concept of the proposed new uniform.
The Executive Director of the human rights organization, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, on Friday, in a statement, called for special uniform designs for female Muslim corps members.
According to him, the new NYSC uniform must not only accommodate the hijab, (but it must also project decency and protect the integrity of Muslim women.
”The Federal Government has announced its intention to reform the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The reform will also necessitate designing a new uniform, while the role of the military in the service will be drastically reduced.
“Although we welcome some aspects of the proposed reform, we call for caution on the issue of redesigning the NYSC uniform. In particular, we demand the involvement of at least one notable female Islamic society in the country (for example, FOMWAN — the Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria) in the design process in order to cater to the interests of Muslims in the new uniform.
”Such engagement will save the reformed scheme from unnecessary controversy and undue ethical bottlenecks. We consider our intervention germane and timely since the final design has not been made public.
”It is necessary to give background information for a good understanding of our position. It is an open secret that the Christian colonial masters were the ones who designed the school uniforms that are still in use today. But they only ensured that they were suitable for Christians.
“No thought was given to the need to conceptualize a uniform that would be suitable for Muslims. Unfortunately, successive Nigerian administrations in post-independence Nigeria paid no attention to the need to engage with Muslims and integrate them into the designs.
”Naturally, this cultural lopsidedness resulted in a clash of cultures, with Muslims demanding adjustments to the design of school uniforms, particularly for female Muslim students.
”The hijab question has been fought and won to a large extent, but it spilled over to the NYSC uniform, which Muslims also considered too Westernised. A gale of agitations ensued, and NYSC authorities eventually succumbed by proposing a moderate hijab design for Muslim corps members.
”But feelers from the new NYSC uniform design, which is expected to accompany the proposed reforms in NYSC, seem to suggest that the concept of the new uniform has reversed the gains made by marginalised Muslims, as there is no sign of a hijab design for the new uniform,” Akintola said.
The MURIC boss, therefore, advised stakeholders to carry Muslimsalong because only this will be a true reflection of the diverse cultures that make up the country, adding that Nigerian Muslims will reject the imposition of any Christian-oriented uniform for the newly reformed NYSC, or allow Muslim daughters to be indecently exposed in the name of a new NYSC uniform.
Akintola said, ”We remind the authorities of the need for inclusiveness in the concept of the new uniform. We advocate adequate consultations before the final decision is made on the new NYSC uniform. The practice of shaving the heads of Muslims in their absence has become anachronistic. We must have a place at the table. A stitch in time saves nine.”
