The Director-General of NYSC, Shuaibu Ibrahim stated these during the 2022 Batch ‘A’ Pre-Orientation Workshop in Abuja.
Ibrahim said, “When the NYSC Trust Fund becomes operational, the number of corps entrepreneurs will increase drastically, and they will in turn help to provide jobs for millions of other youths of the country. This will equally help reduce the issue of security challenges faced in the country.
“I, therefore, appeal to all friends of the scheme, including influential public figures, civil society organizations, students’ bodies, members of the academia and media practitioners, to send memoranda to the House Committee on Youth and Sports as well as make physical appearance at the public hearing to drum support for the establishment of the Trust Fund.”
Gbajabiamila stated that the NYSC lied about its consequent denial of the advice if the Scheme indeed inserted the worrisome sections in its official pamphlet to corpers.
The NYSC, on Page 56 of the handbook titled ‘Security Awareness and Education Handbook For Corps Members and Staff,’ had advised corps members travelling on “high-risk” roads to alert their “family members, friends and colleagues to have someone on hand to pay off the ransom that could be demanded” in case they are kidnapped.
It listed such roads as “Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Lokoja-Okene, or Aba-Port Harcourt” roads.
Gbajabiamila, however, noted that the NYSC had denied that such advice was in its handbook.
“I am aware that they tried to deny it but I have before me the pamphlet – the public document – which I got from the NYSC certified and Section 65(e) is very clear and unambiguous. And this is the pamphlet that they have been using everywhere,” Elumelu said and went further to read out the part.
Responding, the Speaker said, “If that is from NYSC, it is definitely problematic…if it is. But where an institution has come out publicly, not privately, and officially denied something, we must also take cognisance of the fact – which is a problem in this country – about documents, even the Constitution – unfortunately, you find fake (copies of the) Constitution being sold on the streets – and something needs to be done about that.
“I find it difficult that if they (NYSC) truly put that in there – and I am not holding a brief for them; maybe they did; if they truly have that in their official pamphlet and they still come out and deny it; that is not a denial, that is a lie. There is a difference; that is actually a lie if they actually did that.”
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alteration Bill, 2020, which is seeking to repeal the NYSC Act, is billed for the second reading.
The sponsor, Mr Awaji-Inombek Abiante, in the explanatory memorandum of the proposal, listed the various reasons why the NYSC should be scrapped.
It read in part, “This bill seeks to repeal Section 315(5)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended) on the following grounds:
” Incessant killing of innocent corps members in some parts of the country due to banditry, religious extremism and ethnic violence; incessant kidnapping of innocent corps members across the country;
“Public and private agencies/departments are no longer recruiting able and qualified Nigerian youths, thus relying heavily on the availability of corps members who are not being well remunerated and get discarded with impunity at the end of their service year without any hope of being gainfully employed;
“Due to insecurity across the country, the National Youth Service Corps management now gives considerations to posting corps members to their geopolitical zone, thus defeating one of the objectives of setting up the service corps, i.e. developing common ties among the Nigerian youths and promote national unity and integration.”
The National Youth Service Corps has banned all forms of religious gatherings on its orientation camps.
NYSC Camp Safe Reopening Project Lead , Dr Oyeladun Okunromade , stated this at a sensitisation webinar for the 2020 Batch B Stream II Corp Members .
The event with the theme, ‘ Protecting The health Of The Nigerian Youth : Safe Reopening Of NYSC Orientation Camps’ also had in attendance the Director – General of NYSC , Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, as well as the Director- General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control , Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu .
The NYSC DG said the Service won’ t hesitate to decamp any corps member who fails to adhere strictly to Covid protocols on orientation camps.
“ There won ’ t be any form of religious gatherings in camp . We encourage virtual activities, ” she said , adding that corps members are required to come on camp with their face masks and other personal protective materials as the NYSC would not provide those .
Okunromade also said , “ Maami market has been significantly reduced in line with the new normal . There won ’ t be any sitting down with friends to dine at the market but there will take- aways . ”
The National Youth Service Corps has released postings for 2020 Batch B Stream II Corp Members .
The Director- General of NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim , disclosed this at a sensitisation webinar for the prospective corps members.
The event with the theme, ‘ Protecting The health Of The Nigerian Youth : Safe Reopening Of NYSC Orientation Camps’ also had in attendance the Director – General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control , Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu .
Ibrahim urged the prospective corps members to check the NYSC site to know the states they are deployed to .
He said corps members would be allowed on NYSC approved camps nationwide from January 19 , 2021 as against the January 18 , 2021 earlier announced date .
“ I want to inform the prospective corps members that their postings have been released . They can go and check it right now , ” the NYSC DG stated .
He added that the Service won’ t hesitate to decamp any corps member who fails to adhere strictly to Covid protocols on orientation camps.
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