We will reopen Maiduguri orientation camp soon – NYSC DG

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Staff Reporter

274

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) said on Tuesday that it was working towards re-opening its orientation camp in Maiduguri following the return of relative peace to the state.

Suleiman Kazaure, director-general of NYSC, gave the hint while speaking with journalists in Maiduguri.

Kazaure said NYSC was eager to re-open the camp following the return of peace to the state ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.

“There is relative peace now in the state, so we will like to come back as soon as possible. Remember, the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are still occupying the Orientation Camp,” he said.

Kazaure said the camp would be re-opened once the IDPs were evacuated from it.

“It is only in Borno that our corps members have yet to have their orientation camp in place. We are ready to start our orientation the moment the State Government releases our camp to us,” he said.

Kazaure commended the corps members serving in the state for their dedication and resilience.

“If you notice, I asked them about their morale and they responded by saying morale high. That is how we measure the psychological frame of the corps members.

“Minus the camp, every other thing is in place for them. This means that they are in good spirit, they are doing well,” he said.

Kazaure thanked the state government for providing enhanced welfare and security for the corps members.

“I am happy that the state government has been assisting in ensuring the welfare of the corps members.

“I thank Gov. Kashim Shettima for that and implore other states to emulate the gesture by ensuring adequate welfare for corps members serving in their localities,” he said.

Kazaure said the NYSC was working toward setting up six skills acquisition centers across the country to empower corps members with necessary skills.

“We identified lack of trading skills as the major problem causing unemployment among NYSC members.

“So we embarked on establishment of six skills acquisition centers in all the geopolitical zones of the country to help in training these young graduates to become self-reliant.

“We have almost completed work on the center in Gombe which will serve states in the North East.

He said the NYSC authority was also working on five other centres which were near completion.

The director-general said the essence of the innovation was to produce corps members that would eventually become job creators rather than being job seekers.

Source: The Cable

NYSC Reacts To Chidi Odinkalu’s False Report Of Police Brutalizing Corps Member

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps, Zamfara state has come out to issue a statement on the incident of police brutalization of a corps member in Kaura Namoda in Zamfara state, for punishing a student.

“The attention of the NYSC Management has been drawn to stories making the rounds about the beating of a Corps member, Esi Uwakwe, serving in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, by the police purportedly at the instance of an influential indigene of the area.”

“The facts of the case were grossly exaggerated, especially in the social media. Our findings showed that the Corps member, who is serving in a school, went beyond his responsibility of teaching and adoption of acceptable approaches to discipline by causing knee injuries to one of his students whom he instructed to crawl on her knees.”

“The angered father of the student took the matter to the police and in the course of handling the case, an overzealous officer slapped the Corps member. Our position on the matter is that both the Corps member and the policeman were wrong in their approaches.”

“The overzealous policeman has since apologized for slapping the Corps member and the matter has been put to rest.”

“The management wishes to stress that the picture of a man with cuts on his back, which is being circulated online, is not that of Corps member Uwakwe, but merely posted with intent to cause mischief and further mislead the public.”

“While we sympathize with both the injured student and the Corps member, whose inexperience might have resulted in his excesses in his approach to discipline, we wish to restate that the publicity the case generated would have been normal if not for the exaggeration.”

“The management remains committed to the safety and dignity of Corps members, but wishes to advise those on teaching assignment to always exercise caution in handling disciplinary cases and to, especially, refer serious cases to their school supervisors to be on the safe side.”

Source: The Herald

NYSC Introduces Monthly Biometric Clearance To Check Ghost Members

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has introduced a biometric technology for the corps members’ monthly clearance in South West, a development that will expose those who absent themselves from their places of primary assignment.

The Director General of NYSC, Brig-Gen Suleiman Kazure who stated this in Ibadan at the opening ceremony of the training workshop on Biometric Clearance of Corps Members in Local Government Areas in SouthWest with the theme “Ensuring Accountability in Corps members activities using ICT, said that biometric technology will not only address absenteeism during service year but will also address the problems of irregular signatures leading to non-payment of monthly allowance, and poor collation and storage of data of corps members.

The training was organised for all heads of corps inspection and monitoring branches, ICT desk officers, zonal and local government inspectors of the South-West.

Kazure, who was represented by NYSC Director of Corps Welfare, Mrs Victoria Okakwu said, “This new process has received great ovation from the public for its positive impact in areas such as elimination of sharp practices perpetuated by fraudulent individuals and reduction of errors in our data and workload on our staffs, corps memners and other stakeholders.

“Furthermore, the improvement on the new process also brought about the introduction of the use of biometrics for mobilisation and registration of corps members at orientation camps which has not only helped in fast tracking the process, but also reduced impersonation and registration in prozy including ineligible graduates.”

Kazure noted that the feedback from the North West zone, South East zone and the two pilot locations of Lagos and Abuja had been very encouraging and positive, adding that he believed that South West zone will also be successful.

He said the training was organised to give participants the requisite knowledge in the IT-based clearance and monitoring of corps members to eliminate the practices of payment of allowances to corps members who are not on ground to serve their father land.

The NYSC boss urged all official of the scheme to shun any act that may be detrimental to the success of the innovation.

In her speech, the NYSC Director of ICT, Mrs Christy Uba said the biometric module was designed to embrace adequate monitoring and monthly clearance of Corps members.

According to her, it keeps record of absenteeism, checkmates truancy, impersonation and other vices which tends to undermine the aims and objectives of the scheme.

“Government agencies rejecting us”, Abuja corps members lament

Posted on February 16, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Some National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed to Abuja say they are being rejected by federal government agencies where they were posted for primary assignment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the affected corps members are from the 2016 Batch B (Stream II) that just ended their three-week orientation.

The corps members said the major reason for their rejection was lack of funds to pay their monthly allowances.

Ojodomo Ogu, a graduate of Kogi State University, said the agency where he was posted flatly turned him down and based its decision on the lack of provision for corps members’ stipends in its 2017 budget.

Expressing his frustration, he said there was no need for the NYSC scheme to continue if government institutions could no longer accommodate corps members.

Chioma Agbasi, a University of Jos graduate, said she was rejected on the “flimsy excuse” of lack of vacancy.

Julie Andrew, who graduated from the University of Lagos, observed that the rejection was not limited to government institutions.

“I was posted to a micro-finance bank in the Central Area of Abuja which rejected me, citing lack of vacancy after they kept me waiting for two days. Thereafter, I returned to the NYSC office which re-posted me to a government agency located in the Central Area of Abuja, but the story was the same.

“To make matters worse, most employers do not provide accommodation for corps members, and this has made life difficult for those who do not have families and friends in Abuja.”

Narrating his ordeal, Adewale said he was first posted to a private firm operating in his area of specialisation, but was turned down on the excuse of re-organisation.

Aisha Hamza, a polytechnic graduate, said she was rejected simply because the organisation was accepting only university graduates.

“At the end of the day, I had to accept serving in a secondary school in Bwari without payment, and where there is also no decent accommodation,” Hamza lamented.

Dada Rabihu, managing director of an engineering company, explained why most corps members are rejected by organisations.

“Most times, we reject corps members because what they studied in school is irrelevant to the organisations’ areas of operations. For instance, last year, a corps member who studied Hausa Language and Literature was posted to us.

“We felt since he could not contribute anything meaningful to the growth of the company, the best thing was to reject him. It is not only in our interest but also for his own good.

“When you take into consideration the fact that the corps member needs to gather work experience that is related to his field of study you will accept our position.”

Most Corps Members posted to North applied for redeployment – DG

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brigadier-General Suleiman Kazure, has assured corps members posted to northern parts of the country of their safety.

The NYSC boss spoke yesterday while addressing 2016 Batch B corps members posted to Niger State, at the orientation camp in Paiko Local Government Area of the state.

He disclosed that 90 per cent of corps members posted to the north had applied for redeployment.

He, however, assured that “the north is no longer volatile.”

Represented by the Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Mrs. Christy Ifeyinwa Uba, Kazure said the successes recorded by the military, had brought normalcy to the entire north.

He appealed to corps members not to be discourage by the negative stories they had heard about the north.

“I want to assure you that the north is now peaceful and the people are friendly. Keep an open mind and give it a chance and a trial.

“Your posting is not by mistake, stay here and make some impact on the people of the state”, he said.

He warned corps members to desist from channelling their complaints and grievances through the social media.

“This is a disciplined organisation. If you have issues or complaints, meet either your local government or zonal coordinator and even your state coordinator rather than taking to the social media”, he added.

4 months after, NYSC, Police fail to investigate whereabouts of missing corps member

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Over four months after he was declared missing, the whereabouts of Shorunke Lukmon, a corps member serving in Zamfara State is still unknown, PREMIUM TIMES can report.

Mr. Shorunke, a graduate of the Faculty of Education at the University of Ilorin, was declared missing in September 2016 after he left his home in Abeokuta to board a night bus to Zamfara.

Sources disclosed that he was on his way to the state for the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC Batch B Passing Out Parade held on October 6.

In December 2016, relatives of the corps member had lamented the attitude of the NYSC authorities towards their plight, saying that the government had failed them.

In separate interviews with PREMIUM TIMES, the relatives had called on Nigerians to plead with the authorities to intensify efforts to locate the missing corps member.

PREMIUM TIMES finding, however, indicate authorities may not be conducting any thorough investigation to find Mr. Lukmon.

Earlier in December, when PREMIUM TIMES contacted the NYSC legal adviser, Tijani Ibrahim, he said the case had been referred to both the Oyo and Zamfara states NYSC co-ordinators, as well as the Oyo State Police Command.

But when contacted, the Oyo State Police Public Relations officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the force was not briefed about any such case by the NYSC.

“I am not aware of that (Mr. Sorunke’s case),” he told PREMIUM TIMES. When our correspondent tried to probe further, he did not respond to calls and text messages sent to his phone.

Similarly in December, the NYSC Public relations officer in Oyo, Simeon Bankole, had told PREMIUM TIMES that the Oyo State NYSC had not been officially briefed by the NYSC authorities.

He disclosed that he only heard about the case when two relatives of Mr. Shorunke cried to the NYSC secretariat around October 2016. He suggested that since Mr. Shorunke served in Zamfara, the Oyo NYSC would need to be briefed before it could act on the case.

In the third week of January, when PREMIUM TIMES confronted Mr. Ibrahim with details of its findings, he attributed the delay in handling of the issue to the change in the NYSC leadership of the two states.

“The state co-ordinators in Zamfara and Oyo states have been changed,” he said.

He promised to get back to our correspondent on the case but he never did. Calls and messages sent to his phones were not replied, either.

It is unclear whether NYSC indeed filed a report to the two states as, despite the leadership changes, the states could still have worked on the case if a report was filed.

Efforts to speak with Bose Aderibigbe, the national spokesperson of the NYSC, proved abortive. She did not pick calls or respond to text messages sent to her number. The NYSC authorities in Zamfara, too, could not be reached.

When contacted on Monday, the Oyo state NYSC Public relations officer, Mr. Bankole said there was no update on the case as the Oyo NYSC had still not been briefed on the case.

Again, efforts by PREMIUM TIMES to reach the Oyo Police spokesman, Mr. Ajisebutu, on Thursday proved abortive. He did not pick his calls or respond to text messages.

In his reaction, Abubakar Abdul-karim, a friend and colleague who served with Mr. Shorunke said “Lukmon is a young, committed, promising and aspiring youth who gave his best in the service of his fatherland. He was declared missing since Wednesday 21st September 2016 and till we speak he has not been found or heard from.”

In a chat with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Abdul-karim accused the NYSC of doing nothing about the case.

“Even after filling an official report to the police and the NYSC management, they have done little or nothing to bring back this young lad home. The most annoying and discouraging part is the refusal of the NYSC management to issue a statement to this regard to either affirm or deny his disappearance,” he said.

“The government has failed this young promising man. As a friend, I see this country as not worth fighting or dying for. The government through the relevant agencies (police, state security service, and National Youth Service Corp) should help bring Sorunke Lukmon Olayiwola back home.”

“Let security agencies be more proactive with security report, regardless of who is involved. They should not act based on how influential the victim is. Every human life is sacred and should be treated as such. All animals are equal, the notion that some are more equal than others should be jettisoned.”

Source: Premium Times

13 corps members injured, fellowship centre destroyed after rainfall.

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Thirteen members of the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, in Oyo State were injured while a worship centre was destroyed during the first rain of the year in Iseyin, the permanent site of the NYSC orientation camp.

The first rain fell in the state on Monday in Ibadan, the state capital while on Tuesday night came the turn of Iseyin town.

The Oyo State NYSC Public Relations Officer, Simeon Bankole, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan that the injured corps members were treated and would be transferred to Ibadan for more medical check up.

He said that the worship centre of the Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship (NCCF) was affected while evening service was on.

He disclosed that there was no death from the incidence, adding that their colleagues saw all the affected members on Wednesday.

“For the rumour mill going about peddling unfounded and unsubstantiated lies, all registered Corps members are hale and hearty.

“The injured members were brought to camp this Wednesday morning and were shown to their colleagues at parade ground.

“They were brought to freshen up so that they could be transferred to a better medical facility in Ibadan, They will leave for Ibadan any moment from now,” he said.

Source: NAN

Date for registration of 2017 Batch ‘A’ corps members has not been fixed – NYSC

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The management of the National Youth Service Corp has said the date for the registration for the 2017 Batch ‘A’ corps members has not been fixed, distancing itself from rumours that the registration would commence on February 8.

It also dispelled rumours of death at its Oyo State orientation camp located in Iseyin. However, it said sixteen corps members were injured when rainstorm destroyed a building on the camp.

“We wish to confirm that one of the structures at the NYSC Orientation camp was indeed affected with sixteen Corps members sustaining injuries,” NYSC management said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Management, however, wishes to make it clear that rumour of death being peddled in the social media is untrue.
As a matter of fact, all the injured Corps members received the best of treatments and all of them have since been discharged from the hospital.

“Situation at the camp is calm now while normal activities are going on.”

With regards to 2017 registration, NYSC said the timetable would be made public “at the appropriate time through our official communication channels.”

“For the avoidance of doubt, no date has yet been set for the commencement of online registration by 2017 Batch ‘A’ Prospective Corps Members.”

Source: Guardian

Okorocha Asks Corps Members To Lead ‘Buy Made In Nigeria’ Campaign.

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has urged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to join the campaign for patronage of Made in Nigeria goods in order to grow and develop locally made products to address present economic challenges.

The governor’s message was conveyed by the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, to the corps members during the official opening of the Orientation Course for the 2016 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Corps members deployed to Imo State.

Mr Madumere stressed that buying Made in Nigeria products would help galvanise Nigerian economy and put it on the part of growth and sustainable development.

The nation’s economy is currently in recession.

“The initiative will not only encourage Nigerian investors but will spur other Nigerians to put to work their ingenuity in bringing solutions to Nigerian myriad problems since there will be a guaranteed market thereby saving foreign exchange,” he stressed.

The deputy governor, however, urged the corps members to partner with the Imo State government in its Back to Land Policy, which is one of the State government’s effort to boosting agricultural activities and agro-allied business in the State.

He reminded the corps members deployed to Imo State of the essence of NYSC scheme, which remains unity, love, patriotism and spirit of brotherhood.

Mr Madumere further assured the corps members that the Okorocha-led administration in the state was committed to ensuring that the corps members were comfortable throughout their service year.

Earlier in his address, the State Coordinator of the NYSC scheme in Imo State, Mr Olugbodi James, averred that the scheme placed high premium on the orientation course since it was a prelude to other major programmes lined up for a given service year.

He highlighted that it was organised to promote discipline, encourage positive attitude and introduce them to available skills and ventures through noble skills acquisition, entrepreneurial development.

He also expressed gratitude to Governor Okorocha for numerous projects he had carried out for the scheme, informing the corps members that the governor had promised to build extra two structures as requested by the scheme.

NYSC scheme, major unifying factor – Obaseki

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, yesterday, described the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, scheme as a major unifying factor for the nation, appealing to the Federal Government to ensure it was sustained.

This came as Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State tasked NYSC members to shun unhealthy conducts and be patriotic citizens of the country.

Governor Obasaeki, who spoke during the swearing-in ceremony of the Batch B Corps members at the Orientation Camp in Okada, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state, emphasised the need for all Nigerians to support the objectives of the scheme.

Represented by his deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu, the governor said the scheme had integrated and unified the vast and diverse cultural differences of the country since “our corps members from Hausa, Igbo, Edo, Yoruba, among others, are brought together and sent to serve in different parts of the country irrespective of where they come from. I believe it should be encouraged and fortified by the Federal Government because it has been a huge success.

“It is noteworthy to state that the contributions of the scheme in Edo State has over the years impacted positively on the psyche of our people and have contributed immensely to the development of rural areas through various community development projects. Its contributions can be seen in educational, social and health care delivery services, particularly in the rural areas.

It will interest you to know that here in Edo State, the government has a tradition of rewarding excellence among corps members who distinguish themselves during the service year through the execution of community development services meant to leave their host communities better than they met them.

On his part, Governor Wike spoke during the swearing in ceremony of 2640 Batch B stream II corps members deployed in the state at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Nonwa/Gbam Tai, Tai Local Government Area of the state.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kenneth Kobani, advised youths to be of good conduct, noting that the reason for the programme is to reorient youths on hardwork.

Wike said: “The one year ahead holds a lot of challenges as you will be required to join the current efforts of government in the mobilization and sensitisation of your host communities toward understanding and embracing our reform programmes.

Your skills and services will be required in our continuous fight against HIV/AIDS scourge, provision of free legal service to the less privileged, sensitisation of the public on fundamental human rights, enhancing the education standard of your host communities, promoting and sustaining healthy environment, promoting and providing medical services to rural dwellers, supporting agro allied activities in your host communities and creating awareness on disaster management among other things.”

Source:

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/nysc-scheme-major-unifying-factor-obaseki/

NYSC orientation back in Adamawa after 3-year break

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has resumed orientation of corp members in Adamawa state, after a three-year suspension caused by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The last orientation was held in Adamawa in March 2013.

Speaking to Tuesday in Yola, Mohammed Abubakar, state coordinator of NYSC, said 2, 500 corps members were deployed to the state.

“Registration of corp members started this Tuesday morning by 7 am and you can see they are trooping in; we are expecting 2, 500 corp members,” he told NAN.

Abubakar said that adequate security had been put in place with about 300 officials from the army, police, department of state security, Nigeria security and civil defence corps and NYSC.

He explained that the state government had provided the facility of Adamawa State Polytechnic, Yola, as a temporary camp, pending the final evacuation of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the permanent orientation camp in Damare.

“I want the corps members to understand that this is a borrowed camp and should therefore bear with the available facilities,” he said.

While lauding the state government for it support towards a successful orientation, Abubakar urged the people of Adamawa to continue supporting and showing hospitality to corp members.

Source: The Cable

NYSC to commence 2016 Batch B stream II orientation January 24

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, will commence the 2016 Batch B Stream II orientation for prospective corps members on January 24.

The NYSC made this known in its official website on Monday, adding that the orientation would end on February 13.
It said that the on-line printing of call-up letters by stream II prospective corps members would commence on January 19.

According to the website, delivery and collection of call-up letters to institutions by prospective corps members who did not pay will start on January 20, 2017.

Source: NAN

“December allowances would be paid very soon”, NYSC assures corps members.

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has apologised to youth corps members over the delay in paying their allowance for December 2016.

The management of the scheme in a statement released on Wednesday expressed regrets over the delay in the payment.

“The NYSC Management regrets the delay in payment of December 2016 allowance to Corps members in some states.

“Management wishes to inform Corps members that efforts are on-going in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General to address the cause of delay, and we have received assurances of positive outcomes soon.

“We thank you for your patience while steps are taken to ensure payment as soon as possible,” the statement said.

Youth corps members were recently warned to disregard reports that the 2016 Batch ‘B’ (Stream II) orientation course will hold between January 16 to February 4.

“We wish to warn that the message did not emanate from the scheme, and its authors are clearly out to cause confusion,” the scheme had said.

The NYSC noted that prospective corps members will be given information about online printing/collection of call-up letters and the commencement date for Batch ‘B’ orientation course through its official website and social media handles.

Minister releases investigation report on death of corps member, Oladepo Ifedalapo.

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has released the summary of findings on the death of corps member, Oladepo Ifedayo.

Ifedolapo died at NYSC orientation camp in Kano State on November 29 and was laid to rest in her hometown in Osun State.

President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered an investigation into her death.

Dalung on Wednesday made public the findings by the Ministry and NYSC, absolving NYSC of any lapses in the cause of attending to the late corps member.

The report reads in part:

“The national dailies in recent days have been awash with stories on the assumed circumstances surrounding the death of Oladepo Ifedolapo Rachael, a corps member of the 2016 Batch ‘B’ in Kano on 29th November, 2016…

“FINDINGS:

In all of the above, some conclusions could be highlighted without any fear of contradiction.

(i) From the evening of 27th November, 2016 up to the early hours of 29th, the corps member was promptly attended to. The allegation of negligence on the part of NYSC is therefore unfounded.

(ii) The Orientation Camp clinic where the corps member was first treated has a total of 31 qualified and registered Doctors, 20 Pharmacists and 11 Nurses. There are no student Doctors as all the Doctors are fully certified by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

(iii) The Camp clinic in Kano Orientation Camp, as in all the Camp clinics nationwide, runs 24-hour service, hence she received attention at 3:00 am on the 28th of November when her friends brought her in from the hostel.

(iiii) The Camp clinic in Kano was well stocked with essential drugs for a non-surgical hospital.

(v) There was no delay in referring the deceased to the secondary hospital when the Camp clinic Doctors found that her case was beyond what could be managed in the Camp clinic.

(vi) Apart from being the closest secondary hospital to the Camp, Gwarzo General Hospital is not a village hospital as insinuated in the Press. It is a standard General Hospital established in 1970 as a Zonal Referral Hospital with surgical theatres. It currently has eleven (11) Doctors and is reputed to be one of the busiest in the whole of Kano State.

(vii) We have also established that at no time was the deceased left unattended at the Gwarzo General Hospital as the Nurse who accompanied her to the hospital is a staff of the Hospital.

(viii) Like many corps members do upon arrival at the Camp, it is clear that the deceased had an ailment which she did not disclose. From the Doctors’ report, the corps member died of renal sepsis occasioned by infection. Even to the untrained, Kidney infections do not develop and degenerate to the level of mortality in three days (i.e 27th to 29th November, 2016).

(ix) The close friends of the deceased who were by her side all through at the Camp, have also attested to the fact of prompt attendance at the clinic by the Doctors at the Camp.

(x) The deceased was neither forced nor harassed to take part in any parade at the time of her ailment. There was no usual parade rehearsal since the Swearing-in Ceremony had not taken place at the time she fell sick.

“CONCLUSION:

The purpose of this investigation and report is not to justify the death of our corps member but to establish the facts surrounding her death, especially against the backdrop of the unfounded insinuations that have been peddled in the Press.

“All these facts could be verified right from the Orientation Camp Clinic entries, the medical personnel and the records at the Gwarzo General Hospital. Indeed, the death of a single corps member in the course of service is one death too many.

“Beyond the colossal loss to the family of the deceased, the loss of a corps member to the NYSC family and the nation at large is unquantifiable. At this prime of her life, Miss Oladepo was expected to make her greatest contribution to the development of Kano State and Nigeria in general. She has definitely left a vacuum that may never be filled.

“As we mourn her and other corps members who have departed this world, we shall continue to honour her memory by working harder with the rest of the corps members to achieve the time-honoured objectives of the NYSC.

“May the soul of Oladepo Ifedolapo Rachael and the souls of all other deceased corps members rest in peace Amen.”

20 arrested over killing of policemen, missing NYSC members in Rivers re-run

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Indications emerged, yesterday, that the crack police team sent to Rivers State to nab the killers of Deputy Superintendent of Police Alkali Mohammed, his orderly and other missing officers during the re-run elections in Rivers State, might have made a breakthrough, with over 20 suspects in police net.

Senior police officers involved in the manhunt for the killers will, today, brief the police high command on the development before making public the ‘highly priced catch.’ Vanguard gathered that the briefing will include the fate of the police officers and members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, who were also abducted during the ambush by some cultists at Uju community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.

This came as the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has ordered the setting up of a special panel to investigate the incident. The police boss also expressed satisfaction with the performance of officers during the re-run parliamentary elections, adding that the beheading of the officers did not affect the successful outcome of the elections; he also condoled with the victims’ families.

A special squad invades River Vanguard gathered that the special police team made up of officers from IGP’s Intelligence Response Team, IRT; the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, both from Force Headquarters, Abuja; Special Anti-Robbery team from Ikeja and Adeniji-Adele, both in Lagos; the Intelligence Unit in Abuja and Rivers State, and the Special Investigations Bureau, SIB, arrived Rivers State soon after the beheading of the officers by suspected cultists during an ambush at Uju.

The team, according to sources, swung into action and was able to trace the hideout of the suspected killers after searching Uju community and beyond.

It was learned that no fewer than 20 suspects are presently in police net, but sources said they were sure that the real perpetrators must be amongst those apprehended. According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, “we have actually recorded a breakthrough, but we will not make it public until we fish out our missing officers and members of the NYSC— dead or alive.” DSP Mohammed, who was leading about 12 officers of MOPOL 48 on election security duty, was said to have run into heavy gunfire.

Three of the officers escaped, while five officers are still missing. Give us 48 hours—POLICE Efforts to confirm or clarify this development from police authorities in Abuja failed as those spoken with advised “hold on for now.

We are still tracking them and we will certainly get them. “Within the next 48 hours, you will get the news. For now, we do not want anything to jeopardise our efforts.”

A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah, said: “A high powered investigation team has been directed to unravel the circumstances surroun-ding the death of the officers. “The gains of the security personnel’s performance in the Edo and Ondo elections were further concretised in the Rivers re-run elections in the areas of deployment of logistics, enabling the process, stakeholder’s enga-gement, facilitating voter’s participation, inter-agency collaboration and general provision of peace and security in the state before, during and after elections.”

Man Arrested For Issuing Fake NYSC Call-up Letters

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A suspect, Richard Olayinka, who paraded himself as a staff member of the Osun State University, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command.

He was arrested for allegedly issuing fake National Youth Service Corps call-up letters to four students.

Olayinka was also accused of appending forged signature of the school’s Vice-Chancellor on statements of result purportedly issued to students, identified as Olubunmi Idowu, Lafihan Dare, Sotikare Segun and Akintude Wealth.

It was gathered that the students sought Richards’ help as they were not cleared by the school management due to some outstanding courses.

It was learnt that the police launched a manhunt for the suspect after the youths, who claimed to be students of Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies, Osun State University, reported at the NYSC Lagos State orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja on November 26.

They had appeared before the camp registration team for clearance when their call-up letters were discovered to be fakes.

The suspect was arraigned in a Lagos Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ogba on 12 counts bordering on forgery, stealing and impersonation by the police.

A police prosecutor, Inspector Clifford Ogu, told the court that the offences were punishable under sections 285, 312, 361,378 and 166 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Late Ifedolapo Oladepo’s body may be ‘exhumed’ for autopsy – FG

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Following the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that an independent investigation be carried out as to the cause of death of a youth corps member, Ifedolapo Oladepo, who died recently at the Kano State NYSC Orientation Camp, her corpse may be exhumed to carry out an autopsy.

According to Daily Trust the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, gave the hint on Thursday while addressing State House correspondents.

The National Youths Service Corps had on Tuesday in its report, said the girl, a first-class graduate of Transportation Management from Ladoke Akintola University Ogbomosho, died of an untreated kidney infection.

Speaking on the issue on Thursday Dalung said since no autopsy was carried out by the NYSC, the Independent investigation ordered by the president may require an autopsy.

“The report given by NYSC is normal and it’s natural that after investigation, they must present their own report on what has happened. But in view of the fact that there are many versions on what led to the death of the NYSC member, it would be fair to look at another version of what happened to be sure of what actually transpired. It doesn’t have to do with (President Buhari) not trusting the process; but gauge the report alongside other opinion; then, we’ll now be able to tell Nigerians that there were the circumstances on how she died.

“Don’t forget that the report of the NYSC has no autopsy and an independent investigation will require an autopsy. And now, the autopsy, alongside the report, will balance and it will fortify the conclusion the government will make,” Dalung said.

Reps Summon NYSC Director General Over Death Of Corps Members

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The House or Representatives on Tuesday summoned the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brig. General Sule Zakari Kazaure, to appear before its ad-hoc committee investigating the death of three corps members at the NYSC orientation camps.

Majority leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, while contributing the a motion sponsored by the member representing Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Illa federal constituency of the state of Osun, Olufemi Fakeye, suggested that the NYSC management should liaise with the 36 state governments to construct permanent orientation camps in the states with a fully equipped medical centre.

Gbajabiamila also stated that all youths Corps members should be enrolled under a health insurance scheme for the one year period of NYSC.

He stated that expenses towards the above improvement to the NYSC scheme should be captured in the 2017 budget.

Fakeye in his motion titled ‘Unfortunate and Avoidable Death of late Miss. Ifedolapo Racheal Oledepo, a Corps meber at the Kano state Orientation Camp,’ noted that the demise of the 26 years old first class graduate of Aviation and Transport Management of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology was avoidable.

He stated that the deceased was sick a few days after she reported to the Orientation Camp and promptly reported the condition to camp authorities.

He added that the authorities initially thought she feigned the sickness in order to dodge the routine strenuous exercises which is part of cap activities.

He stated further that although the deceased was eventually admitted to the camp clinic under the supervision of NYSC doctor supported by NYSC nurses, the camp clinic may not be adequate.

“The camp clinic may not have been adequately equipped, as the late Ifedayo was reportedly give some “Placebo” and later injected with some substance, following which a lot of rashes manifested all over her body and her tongue became twisted.

He however suggested that Corps members should be allowed to have adequate rest at the orientation camps and the rigours of camp exercise be relapsed.

Credit:

http://leadership.ng/news/562803/reps-summon-nysc-director-general-over-deaths-of-corps-members

NYSC members refuse participation in Rivers rerun election.

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Corp members are avoiding to participate in the legislative rerun election scheduled for Saturday in Rivers State.

Investigation revealed that corps members who are being contacted to serve as ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission are refusing to participate in the election because of fear of possible violence during the election.

A source who confided in our correspondent said that the corps members were not showing the usual enthusiasm to participate in the election because of the accusations and counter-accusation between the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike , and INEC.

The source said, “Corps members being contacted by INEC to participate in the Rivers rerun election are showing reluctance to serve in the election.

“A good number of them are afraid that there could be violence during the election, and these are young men and women who don’t want to get killed because of some election.”

When our correspondent contacted the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, he said that it was only the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers that could comment on that.

Reacting, the state REC, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, said the job of corps members was voluntary, adding that those who did not want to work with INEC on election day were free to opt out.

Ikoiwak argued that some of the corps members’ parents might have told them not to take part in the rerun election, adding that such a situation would not affect the exercise on Saturday.

The state REC, however, pointed out that INEC would get more ad hoc workers from other government’s agencies if there was shortage in the number of corps members needed for the job on Saturday.

“From the beginning, the NYSC work is on a voluntary basis. We know that some of them might have been told by their parents not to be part of it (election).

“But if we have problem of shortage of manpower, we will complete them with workers from other government’s agencies and institutions,” he stressed.

Oyekanmi also agreed that most parents would be inclined to discourage their children from participating in the election because of what he described as the inflammatory comments by the Rivers State Government that plans had been perfected to rig the election.

Two ‘corpers’ die at NYSC camps two days apart.

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Tributes to the deceased corps member, Miss Ifedolapo Amoke Oladepo, who died in Kano NYSC orientation camp on November 29, flow like rivers of water.

According to one Sen Ajibolu Marcarony Yusuff, who appears to be a relation of the deceased, Ifedolapo called home five hours to her death and told her older sister, Mrs. Oyeyode Abimbola (a nurse) to start coming to her Kano orientation camp because, as alleged, the NYSC doctors were not giving enough care.

Yusuff said the late 26-year-old corps member who graduated with a First Class degree in Transport Management from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, was given injection at the orientation camp’s clinic, but that she called home to say that she had reacted to the injection, as she noticed visible rashes all over her body.
Later, Yusuff claimed, Ifedolapo called home to complain of tongue-twisting, and was reportedly given another injection.

Yusuff continued, “When a male doctor agreed to speak with her sister (Oyeyode Abimbola), he explained that Ifedolapo was having anaphylaxis (acute allergic reaction) and that they intended to place her under observation for an hour before transferring her to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.”

Yusuff claimed that it took about five hours before the camp management transferred Ifedolapo to General Hospital, Gwazo, instead of the AKTH as promised.

She allegedly became incommunicado, as she could no longer be reached on phone.

Thirteen hours later, the family allegedly received a call from the Kano State NYSC camp officials informing them of her death.

In reaction to the issue, the Head of the NYSC Press and Public Relations in Abuja, Mrs. Bosede

Aderibigbe, said that Ifedolapo was sick when she arrived the Kano orientation camp, and that she did not die of stress as her relations and friends thought.

In the same vein, another First Class graduate of Petroleum Engineering from the University of Uyo, Mr. Ukeme Monday, has died in Zamfara State orientation camp.

He reportedly died on Thursday, December 1, of yet-to-be-ascertained causes.

A classmate of his, one Mr. Patrick Immo, noted that Monday was a committed Christian worker in his local assembly, the Power City International.

Immo said the two of them had shopped together a few days to the orientation camp, and that they departed Uyo for their respective orientation camps on November 23.

“It was thus a rude shock to me when, on December 1, I heard that Monday had died,” Immo narrated.

In addition to his First Class certificate, friends said Monday also won four scholarships and other top academic prizes as a student.

Tragic Tale Of How Corper Ifedolapo Died In Kano NYSC Orientation Camp Clinic

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Staff Reporter

It was a tale of tears, agony and regrets on Thursday in Osogbo the Osun state capital, as a National Youth Service Corps member, Ifedolapo Oladepo was buried.

Like many thousands of young graduates mobilised for the 2016 Batch ‘C’ service year, 26-year-old Ifedolapo Oladepo, a first class Transport Management graduate of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho had said her goodbye to her family members, set for Kano, hoping to see her dreams fulfilled.

However, exactly a week after, it was her corpse that was brought to her family after she was said to have died following complications arising from an ailment few days into the NYSC orientation programme in Kano.

nysc-member-ifedolapo-oladepo-before-ctv

Unsurprisingly, her death has raised suspicion from her family members who now claim Ifedolapo could have been saved if she had been given the necessary attention by the NYSC authorities at the Orientation Camp in Kano.

Said to be in proper health before leaving for the Orientation Camp, the death of Ifedolapo has led to several questions regarding the state of health facilities at NYSC orientation camps across the country.

The family identified particularly lack of qualified medical personnel and wrong medications contributed to the death of the NYSC corps member.

Her elder sister, Oyeyode Abimbola, speaking with Channels Television, gave her account of what transpired between her and her sister before her death:

“She called me five hours to her death and told me to start coming as the NYSC doctors are not doing anything for her. They thought she was pretending in order not to go for parade, so they did not attend to her.

How Corps Member Died After Visiting Kano Orientation Camp Clinic

“When she started calling people from home, they eventually gave her an injection (and) immediately after the injection, she called me again that she noticed a lot of rashes on her body that I should speak with the doctor who refused to talk to me.

“She called five minutes later and told me her tongue was twisting, then they sent all her friends out after seeing all the reaction on her body after giving her the unknown injection,” she said amidst tears.

“She said we should get a flight and I called immediately but they told me Abuja flight is Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“I told her to tell anybody in the clinic that I am a nurse and they should allow me to speak to them. Later a male nurse took the phone from her and told me she was having anaphylactic reaction and they will watch her for just one hour and transfer her to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital but alas they did not transfer her until five hours later when they noticed she was restless and calling people at home.

“I boarded a bus going to Kano with her sister, Kemisola Oladepo, to go pick her from there. I begged them to take her to a teaching hospital around but they took her to a general hospital in Gwazo where they have nothing or little care to render.

“They took her phone from her, claiming she was not resting. From that 5PM I could not talk to her, I took a 16-hour journey to make sure I get to her but I was called around 3AM that she gave up, without any doctor in the hospital to assist her.

“The only nurse on duty told me she tried her best by staying beside her when death was taking her away because there was nothing to use.

“From that 3AM till I got to Kano I was hoping it would only be a mix up somewhere it can’t be her my Dolapo is gone… (Sobs).

“I got to Kano and met her at Aminu Kano mortuary, alas it was her being put in that cold place.”

(Sobs) “Amoke mi you couldn’t withstand the agony, NYSC successfully cut your destiny due to negligence.”

Although they are grieving, the Oladepo family wants the government to restructure the NYSC programme and provide infrastructure needed to prevent the loss of innocent young men and women all in the name of serving their fatherland.

Arrived Sick

?The Press and Public Relations Head of the NYSC in Abuja, Mrs Bosede Aderibigbe, when contacted told Channels Television correspondent in Osun state via the telephone that “the deceased corps member from the account I got arrived the Kano orientation camp sick and presented a medical report.

She claimed that it was not the drill in the camp as being alleged that complicated her case.

“We trained all our commandants and officers not to force anyone who is weak to do the drilling exercises.

“Although what happened is a big loss to the family and NYSC as well because we lost a life, we can only console the family.

“I have called for the full medical report and will send it to you immediately I get it.

“What we needed to do we have done. We asked the NYSC in Osun to attend the internment and this is the normal thing to commiserate with the family.

“The family should please accept our condolences but all reports reaching me indicates that she was not forced to do the regular drills as alleged. That is what I can say for now,” she concluded.

In the meantime, our correspondent is yet to get the medical report which the NYSC official promised to send as evidence.

Female corps member dies in Bayelsa orientation camp

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A female corps member posted to Bayelsa State reportedly slumped and died at the State’s Orientation Camp in Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area.

According to reports, the corps member who was identified as Miss Elechi Chinyerem, aged 27, reportedly died after vomiting on arrival at the camp.

Fellow corps members claim that the deceased on arrival at the camp last Thursday looked “terribly sick” and could not participate in some opening sessions at the camp. A source said, “The doctor at the NYSC camp’s clinic immediately referred her to the state-owned Diette-Koki Memorial Hospital in the Opolo area of Yenagoa, the state capital, where she was confirmed dead.”

The deceased was a graduate of the Ignatius Azuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Female NYSC Member Dies In Kano Camp Due To Negligence Of Camp Officials

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Reports reaching Omojuwa.Com has it that a youth corper simply named Ifedolapo who was serving in the National Youth Service Scheme died while carrying out the usual military drill routine.

According to her colleagues, they had resumed camp a day before. However, the stress of traveling a long distance from Osun state (South-West Nigeria) all the way to Kano state in Northern Nigeria was a huge cause of tiredness and fatigue.

Without given time to rest from the long journey, it was recorded that all participating members of the scheme were forced to partake in military drills the following morning despite complaints of tiredness from the long journey.

Ifedolapo who reluctantly joined in the military drill just like every other person that fateful morning. During the course of what seemed like a rigorous exercise, Ifedolapo lost consciousness and she slumped.

The heartbreaking part of this unfortunate turn of event was that the NYSC staff & military personnel who organized and coordinated the drill were informed of Ifedolapo’s health condition but with the waive of a hand, they dismissed the call for help as a ploy on Ifedolapo’s part to escape the drills.

Further investigations into the story revealed that ifedolapo had earlier complained to some coordinators about her state of health but she her complaints were neglected and she was ordered to join the drills irrespective.

Ifedolapo fought for her life as she lay unconscious on the drill ground with no medical personnel to attend to her simply because those who are charged with the responsibility of ensuring the well-being of participants believed Ifedolapo was only being dramatic so as to be able to exempted from the drill.

This is a sad situation as the corpers have called that justice should be done to the irresponsible camp officials who right under their noses allowed such an unfortunate event take place.

One of Ifedolapo’s colleagues was quoted saying; “Please for God’s sake, if NYSC cannot be scrapped, let it be restructured to give room for service in neighboring States. This is one death too many“.

According to Ngozi Emenike who also reported the case, she said; “So this girl died in Kano camp today due to negligence. They assumed she was pretending to be sick in order to dodge parade, so they refused to treat her until the situation got complicated. When will Nigeria grow? RIP Ifedolapo.”

There have been calls from Nigerians that the issue should be probed and justice should be served. There have been previous complaints about the attitude of NYSC officials especially in camps. From neglect of duty to bribery, extortion and sometimes sexual offenses, the appropriate authorities need to wade into these series of misconducts perpetrated by it’s officials.

NYSC ex-member who rode bicycle from Ibadan to Makurdi narrates his ordeal

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Ahungwa Isaac Sekav, a former NYSC member, who claimed he rode on bicycle from Ibadan to Makurdi has explained what he experienced in the cause of his acclaimed journey.

Sekav got a golden handshake of N500k from his state governor, Samuel Ortom and automatic employment for his ‘journey’.

Speaking after his ‘feat’, the young lad said the NYSC management threatened to seize his discharge certificate and bundle him into a bus when he first announced his decision to embark on the journey.

Recall that Isaac, who passed out 4th of November 2016 and began his tour on the 5th of November 2016, had earlier announced that he will be embarking on a “Patriotic Tour” from Ibadan to Makurdi on bicycle.

Isaac, an ex-student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM), said despite the discouragement from the management and some of his ex-colleagues, he embarked on the journey to set record.

“I was threatened by the authorities of NYSC in their office that if I continue to insist on taking that risk of patriotic tour on a bicycle, they will seize my discharge certificate, put me in a car, send me home, then send my certificate to my father.

“I said ok; I left the office disappointed. But they were saying all these because of the risk for my life, even family members kicked against it. It turned out to be a success, glory be to God”.

Camp will open on Thursday, Call Up Letters can now be printed – NYSC

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has urged prospective corps members to print their call-up letters for the 2016 Batch B (stream 1) orientation course.

In a message posted on Twitter in the early hours of Monday, the scheme also released the timeline for the camp registration.

“Callup Letter can now be printed for PCMs slated for Stream 1. They are to login to their respective dashboard with their email & password.

“If the Print Callup Letter link is not on the dashboard, it means PCM is slated for Stream 2 scheduled for Jan 2017. No cause for alarm.

“Registration in the camp for Stream 1, 2016 Batch ‘B’ commences on Thursday 24th November & closes by 12 midnight on the 25th November 2016.”

Prospective corp members were initially worried that the orientation course would not take place after the presidency wrote the senate seeking funds for mobilisation of corp members.

In October, the management of NYSC wrote various universities across the country, advising them to reduce the number of students to be sent for mobilisation.

In several messages on Twitter, prospective corps members reacted to their postings.

NYSC honours awardees to train 20,000 youths on skills acquisition.

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The National Association of President’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Honours Awardees has concluded plans to train and empower 20,000 youths in skills acquisition training.

President of the association, Mr. Simeon Oladele, who made this known in Abuja, said the training, which will be carried out in partnership with the National Directorate on Employment (NDE), is a direct support to the Federal Government’s efforts to diversify the economy.

He said: “In line with the government commitment to diversify the economy and reduce youth dependence on non-existing white collar jobs, the association is organizing skills acquisition training and empowerment for 20,000 youths.

“The first phase of the training is expected to kick-off on 9 November, 2016 with the training of Internally Displaced Persons in Wassa camp, FCT-Abuja.”

Oladele also called on members of the association, which he said are over 1000, to take advantage of this year’s national conference scheduled for 11 November to contribute their quotas in proffering solution to the many problems besetting the nation.

“Following the economic and social crisis that our dear country is grossly faced with, which is not only Nigerian problem but a global phenomenon, we know that our fellow awardees who are competent professionals in their various fields of endeavours are capable of diagnosing our nation’s surmountable challenges.

“Every state of the federation is duly represented in the association, which gives us an unmistakable picture of the Nigerian problems and their solutions,” he said.

NYSC: Corps members protest non-payment of 4 months state allowances in Sokoto

Posted on October 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The 2015 Batch `B’ National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed to Sokoto State have protested the non-payment of their four months state allowances amounting to N49.04 million.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesting Corps members were being owed state allowances between July and October 2016.

The Corps members, who concluded their service year on Thursday, marched from the NYSC Secretariat at Kalambaina, Sokoto, to Government House.

The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, who received them on behalf of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, pleaded with corps members to be patient.

Garba assured the protesting Corps members that the money would be paid latest Oct. 7.

The Chairman of NYSC Governing Board in the state, Alhaji Muhammad Ladan, confirmed the story.

Ladan told NAN in Sokoto on Friday that “as we speak now, the payment for the months of July to September, 2016 is ongoing, adding that the amount involved was N36.78 million.

”The money for the month of October, 2016 amounting to N12. 26 million will drop into NYSC account from the Ministry of Finance anytime from now.”

The state NYSC Coordinator, Mr Thomas Yamma, also confirmed the story when he addressed newsmen in Sokoto on Friday.

NAN reports that, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal recently jerked up the monthly allowances being paid to the corps members.

The corps members were being paid minimum of N5,000 to maximum of N50,000 monthly depending on their disciplines. (NAN)

Corps members are ready for Edo election – NYSC

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has insisted that Corps members involved in the Edo state governorship election are prepared to deliver a credible electoral process.

In a statement signed by the Corps’ Director of Press and Public Relations, Abosede Aderibigbe, the Director General, Brigadier General Sulaiman Kazaure stated that the scheme is committed to the entrenchment of a credible electoral system.

Brigadier General Kazaure warned politicians to play by the rules and avoid any attempt to distract the Corps members from discharging their assignment.

He added that the Corps members involved in the Edo governorship election have been warned that any violation of the scheme’s code of conduct would be met with consequences as provided in the electoral law and the NYSC bye-laws.

How Corps Member Became A Corpse In Port Harcourt

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A serving member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Dayo, has been found dead in a river in Isaka, Port Harcourt.

His body was reportedly found floating in the river two days after he was reported to have accidentally slipped off a boat while boarding a jetty to the community where he was serving.

The deceased was laid to rest on Friday, September 2nd.

A facebook user who shared a picture with a tribute to the deceased wrote: “Corper Dayo was someone who didn’t say more than 100 words in a day. Corper Dayo was someone who never looked for trouble. Corper Dayo was someone who smiled in French. Corper Dayo was someone who always seek the face of God.”

We the Isaka, Port Harcourt corps members sadly bid farewell to our friend who was one of us but lost his life last week Saturday.

He crossed the river to have a haircut in preparation for the next day (Sunday service) but unfortunately did not make it back to us after his haircut because he reached the island and accidentally slipped off the boat as he was trying to climb up the jetty leading to the community where we stay.

We cried our eyes out in prayers begging God to rescue him while the searcher swept the river. Unfortunately, according to the wish of God, he was only found two days after floating in the river. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

“I also use this medium to urge our fellow corpers who are posted in riverine area to be very careful and also put on your life jackets no matter how small the river may be.”

Meanwhile, the NYSC, is yet to make an official statement on the death of the corps member.

NYSC Seeks UN’s Intervention In Camp Development, Others

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier-General Sulaiman Kazaure, has requested for the United Nation’s intervention to address the problem of deficit in Orientation camp infrastructure, as well as capacity building for members of staff of the scheme.

nyscmembersnyscmembersAlso, the DG sought the world body’s assistance in the establishment of the skills centre for corps members undergoing entrepreneurship programme in the country.

Kazaure made the requests, Thursday, when he received the Country Director of UNAIDS, Mr. Bilali Camara, in his office, in Abuja, said this would enhance the achievement of the scheme’s mandate.

He informed him of the Scheme’s plan to establish a skills acquisition centre in each of the six geo-political zones in the short term, and eventually in all the states of the federation as a measure towards enhancing the functionality of its Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme.

Earlier, Camara explained that the purpose of a three-day visit by the UN Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, to Nigeria, which ended yesterday, was to discuss with stakeholders on areas of the United Nations’ assistance to the country.

According to him, Alhendawi had met the Vice-President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as well as top officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Youth and Sports amongst others, adding that the discussions centred on the design of a coordinated framework for the UN’s development assistance to Nigeria.

The Country Director further disclosed that the assistance framework would have special focus on youth and would address issues of empowerment as well as peace and security amongst other areas of intervention.

Oyo Corps Members Groan Over Nine-Month Unpaid Allowances

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Some National Youth Service Corps members serving in Oyo State have appealed to the state government to pay nine months’ arrears of state allowances owed them.

The members made the plea on Tuesday in Ibadan.

The state government had promised to be paying the sum of N4, 000 monthly to corps members serving in the state.

A 2015/16 Batch B Corps Member, Miss Miracle Onyekponwanne, said that she had not received any payment since the inception of her service in October 2015.

She said, “People like us teaching in schools do not even have accommodation and it is supposed to be the responsibility of the school and government. So, we have to accommodate ourselves and it has not been easy.

“With the situation of things in the country now, the N19, 800 the Federal Government is giving us is not even enough. We have to transport ourselves and do other things.

“We will pass out in October, yet we have not received anything. The government should please pay us everything at once or even twice, before we pass out.”

Also, Miss Oyinkansola Omotesho, of Batch B, said “I have not received anything at all since I started serving’’.

“It is better they tell us that they will not pay the allowance so that we remove our mind from it. We would have calculated what to use the money for but our hope are being dashed out.

“They should please be checking how they pay on the payroll because only few people received once but those of us teaching in my school has not received anything at all since 2015.”

Similarly, another Batch B member, Mr Meshach Omaji, said he only received two months allowance since October 2015, adding that other batches had not received any at all.

“Since I started serving in November 2015, I have only received twice. The first one was meant for December, 2015 but the second one was not stated, so I assumed it was for January 2016.

“I have not received any other one since then. Maybe I received those ones because I am serving with the state NYSC editorial department.

“Most of my colleagues have not received any since 2015.”

Another Corps member in a secondary school in Saki, who preferred anonymity, said that the state government had only paid the December and January allowances.

Omaji, however, pleaded with the government to pay the remaining allowance.

“The money should be for accommodation but when we did not receive it, we had to source for it from parents and relations.

“These are people we should even be giving money; no matter how little, rather than them giving us,’’ he said.

Efforts made to reach the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Mr Yomi Olayinka, failed.

NAN

El-Rufai To Upgrade Kaduna NYSC Permanent Camp

Posted on June 29, 2016 by Staff Reporter

As 2,500 corps members deployed to Kaduna State by National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) resume proper primary service, Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has promised to facelift the camp facilities before the next orientation exercise.

El-Rufai said doing so will give incoming corps members deployed to the state conducive environment to begin the service year on motivating ground which will eventually lead to maximum productivity.

The governor said he has directed the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to ensure that contractors commence work on the comprehensive renovation of the facilities immediately after the corps members may have vacated the camp.

El-Rufai, who was represented by Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Culture, Daniel Dan-Auta, while declaring the camp closed on Wednesday, reiterated the commitment of his administration to providing youths with needed support to make them triumph in their endeavours because of their pivotal role in developmental projects of his administration.

The governor also assured corps members of their safety in any part of the state they are posted to serve as adequate security measures in collaboration with security apparatus in the State, adding that he will reward those that distinguished themselves at the end of the service year.

El-Rufai further directed that all ministries, department and agencies of the state government must not reject corps members posted to them.

“Let me remind you once more that the major objective of the NYSC is to foster unity and integration among the diverse ethnic nationalities of our great country through the youths. I therefore urge you to pursue the realization of this goal in practical terms by taking your host community as your home and joining in contributing to its socio-economic development, ” said the governor.

Earlier, NYSC Coordinator in the State, Prince Mohammed Momoh, thanked the State government for moral and financial supports to the scheme, quickly appealed to the governor to fulfill his promise as regarding commencement of the rehabilitation before the next orientation camp few months away from now.

“The completion of the rehabilitation before the next orientation as promised by the state government will make the camp more conducive for informing corps members,” he said.

He urged corps members to identify areas of needs of their host communities and mobilize members of the communities to over-come such challenges.

He however implored them to respect the custom, culture and traditions of the people and do their best to identify with their problems and aspiration particularly those in the grassroots.

Credit: Nation

NYSC DG Urges Corps Members To Marry Each Other

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has urged corps members from different tribes to intermarry, as an avenue of boosting national integration.

The Director General of the Corps, Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure, gave the urge when he visited the 2016 Batch A (Stream II) corps members undergoing their orientation programme.

He noted that the essence of the scheme is to ensure national integration, which would bring the desired unity which the country earnestly desires.

“I wish to see you to intermarry within the orientation period to enhance national integration, as this would be achieved through adequate bonding in the camp.

The DG remarked that Nigeria needs unity and development, as the outlined camp activities such as military drills, skills acquisition and sporting activities would prepare the Corps members for life within and after the service year.

“The Ramadan did not stop us from coming to the camp as I received lots of text messages inquiring about the possibility of organizing the camp with the approach of the period.”

He noted that he insisted that the orientation programme would be organized and by God’s grace it went on and the Corps members would soon leave the camp.

“Corps members would not be posted to Ishiellu Local Government Area where the Ezza–Ezillo communal war took place until we get assurances of adequate security in the area.

Kazaure also advised the corps members to be security conscious and ensure that they go out in the company of friends and colleagues instead of going out alone.

“You should also pay special attention to skill acquisition while in the camp and the entire service year, to enable them be self reliant and not rely on white collar jobs.

The Ebonyi State Coordinator of the Scheme, Mrs Gladys Mbachi, told the DG that 1, 932 Corps members were undergoing the programme with 1, 346 males and 586 females.

“The corps members have been behaving well since they arrived in the camp, though we presently have some health challenges.

She noted that one of the corps members has a mental problem while three others have asthmatic cases, but all have been referred to the hospital for adequate medical attention.

Credit: Nation

NYSC To Commence Batch ‘A’ Stream 2 Orientation Course June 13

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abuja on Monday said the Batch ‘A’ stream II Orientation Course would commence on Monday, June 13, and end on Wednesday, June 29.

The information is contained in a statement signed by the NYSC Director of Press, Mrs Bose Aderibigbe.

The statement urged prospective corps members to log on to the NYSC portal to commence printing of call-up letters from Tuesday, June 7, by 2p.m. as the earlier printed call-up letters were invalid. It said that those who did not subscribe for online printing should start collection of call-up letters from Thursday, June 9, from their various institutions of graduation.

The statement said the scheme had concluded necessary arrangements to hold the exercise after the Federal Government approved and released funds to it. It thanked all stakeholders for exercising patience and wished all prospective corps members a hitch free orientation.

NYSC To Deploy Doctors, Pharmacists, Nurses To IDP Camps Nationwide – DG

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Staff Reporter

337

The National Youth Service Corps is to deploy medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other medical professionals to Internally Displaced Persons camps nationwide.

The Director General of NYSC, Brig-Gen. Sule Kazaure, made this known on Thursday while flagging-off the NYSC intervention programme at Damare IDPs camp in Yola.

Kazaure said the deployment of NYSC in the camps was part of the scheme’s contribution to government’s efforts in assisting the IDPs.

“This programme, which is designed to bring succour to the inmates in this centre, is also intended to compliment government’s efforts towards provision of the welfare needs of IDPs nationwide.

“The scheme, therefore, will deploy the services of corps professionals such as medical doctors, nurses, pharmacist, etc to the centre to assist Federal Government in the provision of medical and other sundry needs of the IDPs.

“Specifically corps members will be participating in medical outreaches, environmental sanitation, educational intervention and general awareness creation on healthy living,” he said.

Kazaure also said that the scheme would use the opportunity provided by the programme to distribute food items and other materials to the IDPs.

He said that the flag-off of the intervention programme was his major official assignment outside Abuja and this was an indication of the importance the NYSC attached to the plight of the IDPs.

Kazaure urged other wealthy Nigerians and corporate organisations to assist government in rehabilitating IDPs in the country.

He commended the military, NEMA, Red Cross, NGOs and various faith based organisations for their contributions to welfare of IDPs.

“I want to thank you all, especially, the corps members who despite all odds are currently serving in the state,” Kazaure said.

The leader of IDPs in Damare camp, Mallam Modu Gana, lauded the intervention programme of the NYSC which he said was timely.

Gov. Muhammadu Jibrilla of Adamawa and the State Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Sa’ad Bello, also lauded NYSC for the gesture, which they said, reflected one of the objectives of the scheme.

NYSC Gets New Director General

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The new Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Sule Kazaure, on Monday formally assumed duty as the 17th head of the corps, promising to prioritize welfare of corps members and staff.

Speaking at the hand-over ceremony in Abuja, Mr. Kazaure, a brigadier-general, said he would ensure that the welfare of corps members and staff of the corps is improved upon for better service delivery.

He however acknowledged that the NYSC was facing a number of challenges, which could only be overcome through “unity of purpose”.

“I know that the tasks ahead are enormous and the road is rough, but with unity of purpose we will make progress,” he said.

Earlier, the immediate-past DG of NYSC, Johnson Olawumi, said the agitation for the upward review of the monthly allowance of corps members would soon be fruitful.

He explained that the leadership of the scheme had written a series of letters to the federal government on the matter, saying “there seems to be a ray of light at the end of tunnel.”

Mr. Olawumi urged staff to extend the cooperation he enjoyed during his stay to his successor in order to achieve desired result.

Mr. Olawumi, also a brigadier-general, took charge of the NYSC on January 6, 2014.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Group Petitions Buhari Over Fraud In NYSC

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged by civil rights group under the aegis The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency, CESJET, to order an immediate investigation into the finances of all National Youth Service Corps, NYSC officials and management staffs connected with the online portal.

CESJET in a petition signed by its Executive Director, Sunday Attah and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari also want a forensic audit conducted on all revenues from the online portal and remittances to the Federation account.

The NYSC had last year introduced four thousand naira (N4,000.00) fee for accessing the online portal for registration and printing of call up letter by corps members.

The petition said, “the anti-people fee was vehemently opposed by Nigerians when it was introduced because it remains exorbitant and exploitative of youths that are mobilising to serve the nation.

“Your Excellency, the NYSC management conveniently structured this extortion as a Private Public Partnership, PPP similar to the Immigration recruitment scam that led to loss of life. At inception, the claims by Brigadier-General Olawumi and his cohorts basically implied that users of the online platform must pay for the initial cost of acquiring hardware and setting up the portal. The explanation was that there would be a drop in the N4000 fee over the course of time when the cost of setting up the portal would have been recovered. Conveniently, no definite timeline for reviewing the fee was provided.

“In addition to being an extortion racket, the PPP arrangement equally implies that Your Excellency’s directive on the Treasury Single Account (TSA) for all revenues generated by government agencies is in a grey area. Whatever agreement NYSC signed with its PPP implementing partner, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, remains secretive and details of remittances to the Federal Government are unknown.

“Nigerians were also misled into thinking that using the online portal was optional while the realities on ground are totally different. Those who tried not to use the portal ultimately discovered they must revert to it or risk losing the chance to serve their fatherland.

“We resorted to writing Your Excellency after all the petitions sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to halt the self enrichment being carried out by the NYSC and the principal actor, the Director General and they failed to act accordingly.

” The NYSC be compelled to truly make the use of the online portal optional

“A directive be given for a full scale investigation of the finances of all other NYSC officials and management staff with connections to the portal

“A directive be given for a forensic audit of all revenues from the online portal and remittances to the Federation Account.”

Credit: nigerianpilot

NYSC Supports Physically Challenged Ex-corps Members With N13.5m

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has supported nine ex-corps members who sustained various injuries during the mandatory one-year service period with N1.5 million each.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, said this in a statement signed by the Director of Press, Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, in Abuja.
The statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that the money was donated by Heritage Bank in fulfilment of its pledge to the NYSC Hope Alive Programme (NYSC-HAP).
It said that the gesture made by the financial institution was to enable the ex-corps members actualise their dreams and not be limited by their disabilities.
It also explained that it was also to reassure prospective and serving corps members that the nation would not abandon them in case of any accident leading to permanent disability during the service year.
According to the statement, the bank made the pledge during the flag off of the programme at the 2012, 2013 and 2014 NYSC President’s Honours Award Ceremony held in March 2015.
The statement said the beneficiaries had expressed joy at the development, adding that it not only restored their hope but also brought them succour.
It further quoted the director-general as saying “the fulfilment of the bank’s promise has rekindled the Scheme’s hope in the support of corporate organisations and public spirited individuals for the NYSC’’.
The statement said Olawumi called on well-meaning Nigerians, organisations and philanthropists to continue to assist the NYSC achieve its vision of a better Nigeria through the youths.
It said that the programme was introduced by the management of the Scheme in order to provide support to corps members who sustained various degrees of injury during the service period.
It said that under the programme the Scheme, in partnership with relevant stakeholders, would provide counselling for those with emotional or psychological trauma.
The statement also assured that medical rehabilitation would also be provided to those with injuries and employment for those who were employable.
It added that requisite skill training and start-up capital would be provided to those who could not be engaged in paid jobs

Credit: Nan

Sad! Corps Member Serving At Kaduna Hospital Dies Of Lassa Fever

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Dr. Ogboji Kelechi, has died of Lassa fever in Kaduna State. The Nation gathered that Dr. Kelechi who was serving at St Louis Hospital in Zonkwa, Zango Kataf local government area of Kaduna State, contacted the disease from one of his patients.

He hailed from Ebonyi State.

The Director General of NYSC, Brig Gen JB Olawunmi, in a statement extolled the selfless service of the late medical doctor, while the DG described the deceased as an exceptional corps member who was fully dedicated to his duties and in the process paid the supreme price.

2016 Batch ‘A’ Orientation Course: NYSC Warns That Online Registration Deadline Will Not Be Extended

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned that online registration for the 2016 Batch `A` Orientation Course, for prospective corps members, will not be extended after the Feb. 28 deadline. It will be recalled that the online registration started on Feb. 8.

Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, the Director of Press Unit of the NYSC, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

Aderibigbe said that the Stream I of the Batch `A’ orientation course would hold between March 30 and April 18 in various camps across the country.

She added that the Stream II of the same batch would start from April 27 to May 16 in designated states.

The director explained that after registering on the NYSC portal, the corps members would get their call-up numbers.

“Prospective corps members shall wait until they get a Short Message Service (SMS) or an e-mail, informing them to go and print their call-up letters.

“They will get the information before March 30.

“Usually, it takes one week or few days to get this information before the orientation course begins.

Asked if the online registration is for foreign graduates only, Aderibigbe told NAN that the scheme does not segregate its corps members.

“The registration is for both local and foreign trained Nigerian graduates,’’ she said.

(NAN)

NYSC Explains Delayed Corps Members January Allowance

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Thursday urged corps members to remain calm over delay in payment of their January allowance.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, Director Media and Publicity of the corps, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

It attributed the delay to discrepancies in planning figures for 2016 from the NYSC, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, and the Ministry of Finance, respectively.

The statement said that the management of the scheme regretted the delay.

It assured that it was working to ensure all corps members received their allowance within a week.

Credit: Vanguard

NYSC To Prosecute Corps Members Involved In Falsification Of Documents

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, on Thursday warned that any corps member and corps producing institutions caught in sharp practices would be prosecuted henceforth.

Olawumi gave the warning in Owerri at the opening of the 2016 Batch ‘A’ Pre- Mobilisation workshop, with the theme: “The Role of Stakeholders in Sustaining the Gains of NYSC Computerised Process.”

The director-general said that recent experience arising from e-mobilisation process had revealed some irregularities which must be brought to public notice.

He identified some of these to include: corps members’ registration by proxy, falsification of medical and marriage documents, prospective corps members providing false information to manipulate their posting.

He also mentioned sharp practices by some corps producing institutions.

“Let me hereby warn that henceforth these sharp practices will no longer be condoned and any prospective corps member and corps producing institutions caught will be prosecuted,’’ he said.

According to him, the practice where parents request for concessional postings for their children on health or marital grounds when such information was not provided during the on-line registration exercise would not be accepted.

Olawumi said the workshop provided opportunity for NYSC management and the stakeholders in the mobilization process to interface and review past mobilisation activities.

He said this was with a view to finding solutions to the challenges encountered during the process.

“The idea is borne out of the need to always ensure that the mobilisation of our youths for the mandatory one year national service is stress-free and of high integrity,’’ he said.

Olawumi said the computerisation of the NYSC in 2014 made registration easy at the camps, while prospective corps members were saved from the cost and danger of distant travels to their institutions to collect call-up letters.

“More importantly, the computerisation programme has brought credibility and transparency in the NYSC mobilisation process by eliminating the issues of ghost or fake corps members.

It has also enabled the scheme to know the total number of corps members and indeed their disposition anytime, at the press of a button,” he said.

Olawumi said despite the achievements, the gains of the initiative could only be sustained if individual stakeholders were aware of their role and play it effectively.

He made a plea to Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo for speedy completion of the permanent orientation camp of the NYSC in the state.

He said the state had been the leading corps producing state in the country.

Responding, Okorocha commended the management of the NYSC for organising the workshop.

He said the scheme must be encouraged because of the peace and unity it had brought to the nation.

The governor called for acquisition of skills by youths in various fields rather than dependence on white collar jobs.

“Job has shifted from the conventional civil servants job to the more skilled area and NYSC is the better place to get the youths to be involved in skilled labour for sustenance,” he said.

Okorocha expressed optimism that despite the challenges facing the country at present, Nigeria would be among the greatest countries in the world in due course.

The Director, Corps Mobilisation Department of the NYSC, Mr Anthony Ani, said the workshop would provide an opportunity for assessing the level of implementation of the resolutions of previous mobilisation workshops.

He said it would also review the past mobilisation exercise, identify challenges and proffer water-tight solutions with a view to achieving a seamless mobilisation process.

Ani said that the knowledge-gap between the Students Affairs Officers and the Data Entry Officers in previous mobilisation, led to unexplainable errors.

According to him, the meeting with the deployment and relocation officers will also be an integral aspect of the workshop.

(NAN)

Corp Member Dies in Church after Members Thought He was Under Influence of Holy Spirit

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A 29-old-youth corper, Mr Excellent Okpako Akevwighome, recently slumped and died while leading a choir ministration in his church, Christ Gospel Church, in Edjeketa community, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The graduate of Accountancy from Anwai campus of the Delta State University was said to have browsed with his handset for about an hour on the eve of his death before heading to the church for a night vigil where he was said to be a choir master.

He was said to have slumped and died almost immediately midway into the vigil while leading the
choristers in a song.

According to Vanguard, an eye witness said when he fell, he was thought to be under the influence of Holy Spirit, but after waiting for about 20 minutes and he was not getting up, some of the choristers tried to help him up only to find out that he was already dead, at exactly 11.30pm of that day.

The Pastor of the church, Pastor Peter Akpovwera, expressed shock at the incident, saying “the brother was a faithful worshipper but lost his life to the cold hand of death even in the church.”

His younger brother, Mr Godday Akevwighome, said the victim was serving in Anambra state as at the time of his untimely death.

Corps Member Slumps And Dies In Church While Leading Choir

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A 29-old-youth corper, Mr Excellent Okpako Akevwighome, recently slummed and died while leading a choir ministration in his church, Christ Gospel Church, in Edjeketa community, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

He was said to have slummed and died almost immediately midway into the vigil while leading the choristers in a song.
An eye witness said when he fell, he was thought to be under the influence of Holy Spirit, but after waiting for about 20 minutes and he was not getting up, some of the choristers tried to help him up only to find out that he was already dead, at exactly 11.30pm of that day.

The Pastor of the church, Pastor Peter Akpovwera, expressed shock at the incident, saying “the brother was a faithful worshipper but lost his life to the cold hand of death even in the church.”

His younger brother, Mr Godday Akevwighome, said the victim was serving in Anambra state as at the time of his untimely death.

NYSC Scheme Will Be Sustained – Minister

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Mr Solomon Dalong, Minister of Youths, Sports and Social Development, said on Tuesday in Lagos that the Federal Government would sustain the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

Dalong stated this when he paid an official visit to the NYSC Orientation Camp at Iyana-Ipaja, in Lagos State.

“I will stand for the sustenance of the scheme and that it should continue to grow. What we need to do now is introduce skills acquisition, empowerment; we need to now repackage the scheme.

At the level of the Federal Government, we are thinking of after the mandatory one year service, those who want to learn a trade, skills acquisition and entrepreneurship can be retained and be given more training.

Our graduates are enlightening minds, whatever you teach them, they will survive with it.

So a grant will be given to them at the end to start off and train other people,’’ he said.

Dalong charged the NYSC to install a high tension illuminating light at the camp, to ensure adequate security.

“You should have high tension Illumination at the camp, as soon as possible. If you have over 2,000 Nigerians in a place like this, you should have a perfect illumination due to the present security challenges in the country.

I am impressed with what I have seen on ground at the camp; the facilities are good, I am satisfied,’’ he said.

Dalong also charged the NYSC to renovate all existing orientation camps in the country.

He said it had become very important for the camps to be upgraded to accommodate the increasing number of graduates that would be expected for the scheme.

“So as you embark on renovation, put it in mind that more people will be using the facilities. I am saying this because I do not know when we will get a new orientation camp, but we are sure that we will have more students passing out of the tertiary institutions.

When we started this scheme, we never planned for what we have now.

Nigeria did not plan to have the number of graduate we have today, so the whole concept of NYSC would have started with permanent structures.

The visionaries of the scheme did not anticipate that the scheme would live this long, after the civil war,’’ the Minister said.

Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, Director-General, NYSC, while conducting the minister round the camp, said it had five boreholes which served over 200 rooms.

Olawunmi said the budget of the corps was reduced from N1.7 billion to N227 million between 2013 and 2015.
He said the corps was facing serious challenges following the reduction by the past administration.

“We pay Security about N180 million yearly to secure all the orientation camps in the country out of the budget and we are left with little or nothing to run our programmes.

We have even reduced the camp to two batches, because of lack funds,’’ he added.

(NAN)

Farmer Pledges To Train 100 NYSC Members

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Staff Reporter

An expert on agriculture, Mr Raji Riliwan, on Thursday pledged to train 100 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Batch `A’ in agricultural production to promote economic empowerment.

Riliwan, who is the Manager of DEKORAJ Farms Ltd, Iju-Isaga, made the pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The expert, who disclosed that the training would begin in the first quarter of 2016, also said:

“We intend to empower corps members because they will be able to meet the requirement for producing agricultural goods since they are freshly out of school.

In addition, keeping fresh graduates occupied will be a good way to reduce and curb the growing menace of vices in the society.’’

Riliwan said empowering youths would also help generate income and increase the Gross Domestic Product of the country.

According to him, youths will be trained in the production of poultry and the welded wire mesh cages for housing live birds.

“The cages are fabricated strictly in accordance with international quality standards using superior-grade raw materials.

Our cages are well designed, allowing proper ventilation, corrosion resistance, excellent foot rest and longer functional life,” the manager said.

He said that the youths, after the training, would be able to produce poultry equipment and become self reliant while contributing to the GDP of the country.

(NAN)

NYSC DG Says The Ban On Wearing Of Hijab In Camps Will Not Be Lifted

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Members of Muslim Youths in Da’wah on Tuesday had a peaceful protest at the headquarters of the National Youth Service Corps in Abuja against the ban on the use of hijab by female Muslim corps members, especially during orientation camps.
However the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General, Johnson Olawumi, insisted on the ban, saying it was “for security reasons” and will not be lifted.

The national coordinator of LMYiD, Luqman Hassan; and the Deputy Coordinator, Kamarudeen Adefila, had told the NYSC DG that a major protest by Muslims was averted because of the ban on hijab in most orientation camps.

Hassan told the DG:

“We are here to discuss with you about the incident that happened recently in various camps across the country. We have a guiding principle which is based on the Holy Q’uran. We are all Nigerians and the principle which guides us is the constitution and the African Charter on Human rights.

“Members of the NYSC are Nigerians who have contributed to the development of this country; female corps members deserve protection by the NYSC. We don’t believe that a female corps member putting on hijab has done any wrong against the Act establishing the NYSC. So they deserve the respect of the NYSC. We have travelled far and wide and visited different camps. Why are the rights of female corps members being infringed upon. We are here to register our displeasure.”

“Many Muslim organisations wanted to protest, but we said wait a while. In fact, we have to intervene to avoid the situation and if Muslims march on the streets, it will attract a lot of negative comments, but people won’t know why we are protesting,” Adefila had added.

Olawumi said:

“Under my leadership, the NYSC will accord respect to every corps member, irrespective of tribe and religion. The incident in Benue State was caused by the use of long hijab. The security situation in the country is tough. There is the danger of somebody using hijab for other reasons.

“Why are you so particular on your alleged infraction on the rights of youths without mentioning any one of such on Christian youths? Produce your evidence, write to us and I can assure you that we will act fast. When the incident in Benue State was reported to us, I swung into action and ensured that the camp commandant was decamped immediately. We are not magicians; if you have any evidence, write to us and we will not hesitate to act.”

The NYSC Legal Adviser, Ahmed Tijani Ibrahim, said the incident in Benue State was still being investigated.

He said,:

“I’m a Muslim and in our camps, I know that we have treated everybody equally. You mentioned the fact that you would have proceeded to protest. Very minor issues could trigger off mass protest.

“We will see the way forward to this complaint. I can assure you that the issue will not be swept under the carpet. The NYSC is very sensitive to the issue of religion and immediately we heard of it, we swung into action and we are on it because issues of religion are very sensitive.”

Punch

NYSC Says No To Long Hijab In Camps

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, yesterday said the scheme is against the use of hijab during orientation camp exercise due to its security implication.

Olawumi, who stated this during a courtesy visit to NYSC national headquarters in Abuja by a group of Muslim youths under the aegis of League of Muslim Youths in Da’wah, insisted that NYSC would only accommodate the use of small hijab.

Olawumi also denied the allegation by the visiting youths that NYSC had infringed on the right of female Muslim corps members in the camp, challenging the group to report any infraction to the leadership of the scheme for proper action.

Earlier, National Coordinator of LMYiD, Luqman Hassan and Deputy coordinator, Kamarudeen Adefila, had told the NYSC DG that a major protest by Muslims was averted because of the ban on hijab in most orientation camps.

Adefila added, “Many Muslim organisations wanted to protest, but we said wait a while. In fact, we had to intervene to avoid the situation and if Muslims march on the streets, it will generate a lot of negative comments, but people won’t know why we are protesting.”

Credit: NationalMirror

El-Rufai Warns MDAs Against Rejection Of Corps Members

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has warned Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state against rejecting corps members posted to them.

El-Rufai gave the warning in Kaduna on Monday at the end of orientation course for the 2,450 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed to the state under the first stream of 2015 batch ‘B’.

He said that the government would view with seriousness any case of rejection of corps members by any agency.
“I am fully aware that the major challenge of corps members after the orientation course is rejection by prospective employers.

“To this end, I wish to use this medium to remind MDAs in the state not to reject corps members posted to them because it is against the state government policy.”

Represented by the Commissioner of Sports, Youth and Culture, Mr Daniel Dan’auta, the governor promised the corps members, an enabling environment to discharge their responsibilities.

El-Rufai called on Nigerians to always promote national unity and integration in line with the objective of the scheme.
The governor also noted that a sustainable economic development would only be built on a sound educational foundation.

Earlier, the NYSC Coordinator in the state, Muhammed Momoh, advised the corps members to respect the custom and tradition of their host communities.

He thanked the government and people of the state for their support to the NYSC over the years.

(NAN)

NYSC Nabs 7 With Fake Certificates

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Staff Reporter

National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has arrested seven persons with fake NYSC certificates. Three of the suspects, who are currently using the certificates to work in financial institutions and bank, are on the run. Consequently, the remaining four suspects with fake NYSC Certificate of Exemption and Exclusion were yesterday handed over to the police for prosecution. The suspects are Olatunbosun Abolarin, Yusuf Adekunle, Akan Macaulay and Abdullahi.

The suspects told newsmen they paid money ranging from N20,000, N25,000, N40,000 and N60,000, to get the certificates.

Director of Certification, NYSC, Hudu Aliyu Taura, also told newsmen at the handing over in Abuja that the arrests were made possible through the cooperation of their employers, who alerted the scheme for verification of the certificates.

He disclosed that 17 certificates were found to be fake during the verification exercise carried out by the scheme, adding that the remaining 10 people and those on the run would soon be arrested.

Taura further said it had become necessary for employers of labour to cross-check with NYSC to ascertain the genuineness of certificate submitted to them by applicants.

Credit: NationalMirror

NYSC Detects Fake Certificates, Calls For Verification

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on Friday, said it had detected fake certificates alleged to be issued by its office and called on employers of labour to always verify certificates to ascertain their authenticity .

Alhaji Hudu Taura, Director, Certification, NYSC said this while addressing newsmen in Abuja.

He said that the verification measure became imperative in order to curb activities of fraudsters who issue fake certificates.

According to Taura, NYSC recently launched a new certificate which carries the passport of the corps members with some other security fixtures added to upgrade it.

He said that the organisation detected 17 fake certificates of exemption when the management of the Guaranty Trust Bank (GBT) brought some certificates of their employees to NYSC for verification.

He said the owners of those certificates were invited to come for proper verification but out of the 17 invited only seven responded.

He said out of the seven only four culprits were being presented because three of them absconded.

Taura said that they confessed to have paid certain amounts to some fake NYSC staff to get the certificate.

He said their statements had been compiled and would be passed to security agents to take the appropriate action to arraign them in court.

“We invited the owners of those certificates to come because that is what we normally do whenever we doubt any certificate; but out of the 17 invited only seven showed up.

“We verified their certificates and took their statement, because it was discovered that they were fake; as they were not issued by us and they confessed that they got them from some other sources.

“We are appealing to all employers of labour to bring the certificates that are said to be issued by NYSC for verification anytime they are employing to ascertain its genuiness.

“They can also bring those of their old employees working with them too. This is to help us curb the activities of fraudsters.

‘No NYSC staff was involved in the scam because the name and account number of the so called staff was mentioned and he is not a staff.”

Taura said that some of the paraded people went as far as paying from N40 ,000 ,N45,000 up to N50,000 to get the fake certificate of exemption.

He urged the media to also help in sensitising the public on the activities of scammers to enable NYSC fish out all those involved and also stop people from falling victims.

Speaking, some of the culprits told newsmen that they were innocent of the allegation as they were ignorantly misled by their school coordinators to pay money for certificate of exemption.

Mr Olatunde Abolorin said he paid N25,000 after his graduation for the certificate as cajoled by his course coordinator in 2010 and was called after six months for his certificate.

He said he came to NYSC office as called because he wanted to ascertain the authenticity of his certificate only to discover that it was fake.

Mr Akan Macaulay and Mr Yusuf Adekunle said they were asked to write their names if they were interested in getting certificate of exemption which they did and paid for without knowing it was fake.

They appealed to NYSC to assist them to pin down the fake NYSC official adding that they have documents carrying his name and address.

Credit : PM News

Practice Licence Now Prerequisite For Medical Graduates’ Participation In NYSC Scheme

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Staff Reporter

In an effort to stem quackery and untoward practices in the medical profession, the federal government Monday barred all graduates of medicine from participating in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme until they qualify as medical doctors and secure practice licence from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

The move came amid several complaints bordering on the level of competence displayed by some of the corps members posted mostly to rural areas to provide medical services.

Explaining the reason behind the council’s decision, the Registrar/Chief Executive of MDCN, Dr. Abdulmumini Ibrahim, during a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, said there had been series of complaints by the NYSC management that all manner of persons parading themselves as medical doctors have become desperate to participate in the scheme.

“There has been increasing number of personal non-grata people who are not trained impersonating as medical doctor. The NYSC has inundated us with complaints. Those who have completed their one year internship have been given certificates. Most corps members are sent to rural areas. They can only go to service upon presentation of their practice licence,” he stated.

He told journalists that the council took the decision during its plenary in 2014 and directed that the provision of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act that only persons who are registered by the MDCN can legally practise medicine or dentistry in Nigeria should be strictly adhered to.

Credit: ThisDay

FG Unveils New NYSC Certificates

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

FEDERAL Government, Tuesday, unveiled newly improved National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates to be issued to corps members at the conclusion of the mandatory one year service to their fatherland. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Abuja, the Director General of the NYSC, Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi said the scheme took the step to wage war against forgery and impersonation.

The DG, represented by the Acting Director of Certification, Alhaji Aliu Daura, explained that the new certificate would be embossed with the carrier’s photograph in line with the global best practices. According to Olawumi, the issuance of the new NYSC certificate would take effect from Batch ‘C’ 2014, who will be passing out on 15 October.

“In our concerted effort to make the operation of the NYSC conform with global best practices, the scheme engaged in the holistic e-nysc solution with effect from Batch ‘C’ 2014 where prospective members register online before proceeding to the orientation camp. This resulted in the enhancement of issuance of NYSC certificates namely; Certificate of National Service, Certificate of Exemption and Letter of Exclusion.

“With effect from Batch ‘C’ 2014, all certificate of National Service bear passport photograph of the corps members at the upper right hand corner of the certificate. “This is to guarantee the security of our certificates from forgery and to block all chances of impersonation. Therefore batch ‘C’ 2014 corps members, who are due to pass-out on 15 October, 2015 will have their certificates embossed with their photograph,” he clarified.

Shielding more light on the categories of the NYSC certificates, the Director of Press, Mrs Abosede Aderibigbe said Certificate of Exemption is issued to a Full-time graduate, who is above the age of 30 at the time of graduation or such corps member is a staff of security agencies like Armed Forces, Nigeria Police, Department of State Security, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Recipients of National Presidential Honours Award.

For Letter of Exclusion, Aderibigbe further said that it was designed to take care of corps population, who are graduates of Part-time, Distance Learning and Sandwich programmes, adding that issuance of letter of exclusion commenced in 2001, and that, they would be able to register and print their letters on line. She noted that the scheme had gone digital, therefore verification of NYSC certificate could now be done electronically.

FG Unveils New NYSC Certificates

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

118

Federal Government, Tuesday, unveiled newly improved National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates to be issued to corps members at the conclusion of the mandatory one year service to their fatherland. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Abuja, the Director General of the NYSC, Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi said the scheme took the step to wage war against forgery and impersonation.

Read More: vanguardngr

NYSC scheme open to new ideas – D-G

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Director-General, NYSC, Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawumi, on Monday in Abuja said that the scheme ran open-door policy and would welcome new ideas.

Olawumi stated this during the inaugural meeting of the 2015 President’s NYSC Honours Award National Selection Committee.

He said that the ideas should be those which would improve not only general performance but also the selection process.

“I urge you not to hesitate in making suggestions where the need arises.

“The selection criteria and other procedural templates which members of the committee are going to be availed with are meant to guide towards un-bias selection.

“Emphasis is on merit but consideration is usually given federal character,’’ he said.

He said the administrative acumen of committee members was expected to count in making the process fast and efficient.

He said the philosophy behind composition of national selection team from reputable organisations with men of credible stand was to ensure objectivity, equity, fairs and openness.

“I feel obliged to implore you to shun whatever form of overture that could arise anywhere to interfere with your assignment,’’ he said.

Earlier, the Director Corps Welfare and Inspectorate, Mr Micheal Ahile has said that the exercise was critical and dear to the policy thrust of the NYSC.

“The essence of the President’s Honours Award is to reward excellence in service and to encourage future generation of corps members to imbibe the spirit of diligence and hard work in service.

“The selection process, which the list of nominees is now before the National Selection Committee, started from Local Government, State and finally the National Headquarters,’’ he said.

Ahile said his department has taken some pains to verify claims from States and Secretariat to forestall novelty and frivolities.

“On the spot assessment of the projects were carried out and briefs have been prepared on each corps member to support the citation forwarded by the State Secretariats.

“It is therefore the onerous duty of the National Selection Committee to meticulously assess and select the best on the set criteria,’’ he said.

Dr Ihenetu Kevin, chairman, National Selection Committee, expressed delight, on behalf of the other members of the committee, for the honour of being appointed of the committee.

(NAN)

Buhari donates N250k, 10 rams to corps members in Daura for Sallah

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday addressed some NYSC Corps members serving in Daura Local Government Area who were at the President’s residence to pay a Sallah homage to him.

NAN reports that Buhari donated N250,000 and 10 rams to the corps members to celebrate the Eid el-Kabir.

Addressing the corps members, the President said the National Youths Service Corps(NYSC) is still a veritable tool of enhancing unity and peace among Nigerians.

He said that the scheme was an opportunity for them to understand the culture of their host communities by interacting with them.

The President urged the corps members to put more efforts toward discharging their primary responsibilities.

He assured them that the Federal Government would do everything possible to enhance the scheme and boost the corps members’ morale to ensure effective service delivery.

The President commended the corps members for contributing their quota to the nation building.

NYSC Secures N200 Million For Corps Members

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Director General of National Youth Corps Service, NYSC, Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, has disclosed that the scheme had secured over N200 million bank facilities to be accessed by corps members as a start-up capital in businesses.

Olawumi revealed this shortly after he met with Commander, Guard Brigade, Brigadier-General Musa Sanni Yusuf, to forge collaboration on skills acquisition programme for serving corps members in Abuja.

To this end, the DG directed the NYSC Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, Mrs Mary Dan-Abia, to commence partnership with the brigade’s skills acquisition centre in Keffi, Nassarawa State.

Read More: nationalmirroronline

No Ghost Corps Member In NYSC, DG Debunks Media Report

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, debunked a media report in one of the national dailies that there were ghost corps members, serving with the scheme.

Olawumi refuted the report during the 2015 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Desk Officers’ Training Workshop with the theme: ‘Broadening the Horizon of FOIA Desk Officers for Enhanced Compliance’, in Abuja.

The DG noted that the report might not be unconnected to failure of the newspaper to cross check the information at their disposal or inability to access such information, directing NYSC Desk Officers across the country to always comply with the Act.

“I am imploring you! Please, make information available, if you don’t do that you are giving people opportunity to fill all the gaps with whatever they have,” he directed.

According to him; “With the commitment of the present administration to fighting corruption, promotion of the rule of law and other fundamentals of good governance, the implementation of the FOIA must be given additional impetus not only by the NYSC, but all stakeholders in the Nigerian project.

“It is in furtherance of this that, I seize the opportunity to announce that corps members will be used to enlighten our citizens at the grassroot on their right to seek for information on government policies and their implementation.

“The scheme will liaise with the Federal Ministry of Justice to ensure a quick take-off of this initiative.”

Read More: vanguardngr

With PMB, NYSC Continues

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said that the National Youth Service Corps was still relevant for national integration and unity.

To this end, he had pledged his administration’s commitment to take all necessary actions in maintaining the programme. President Buhari gave the assurance after receiving a briefing from officials of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development led by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta.

The President who affirmed his confidence and trust in the programme said that the objective for which the scheme was established in 1973 was still very relevant for national development. “I firmly believe in NYSC and I think it should remain a national programme to promote integration.

“Whenever I go home to Daura, I look out for Corps members from Lagos, Aba and other parts of the country.

“I am always thrilled to learn that except for the NYSC, some of them have never left their states of origin to visit other cities in the country,” Buhari said.

Read More: vanguardngr

NYSC Bars Pregnant Women, Nursing Mothers, PG Students

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps has barred prospective corps members that are pregnant and nursing babies from participating in the national service across the country.

Also affected are students undergoing post-graduate studies in institutions of higher learning in the country.

The Director-General of the NYSC, Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, who said these in Kaduna, however, said those affected needed not bother to enlist for service “until they are free to participate effectively.”

This was contained in the resolution of the two-day retreat released to journalists on Thursday.

The NYSC DG, at the workshop with the theme, ‘ICT and NYSC mobilisation process: towards eliminating identified challenges’, added that pregnant women and children would no longer be allowed into orientation camps across the country for service under the scheme established in 1973 by the Gen. Yakubu Gowon administration.

“It was further resolved that pregnant women, nursing mothers or students engaging in post-graduate studies should not bother to enlist for service until they are free to participate effectively,” the resolution read.

Olawumi noted that the exemption of pregnant women and nursing mothers as well as post-graduate students from national service was because they would not be able to undergo the four cardinal programmes of the NYSC.

The four cardinal programmes include mobilisation, orientation, primary assignment and winding-up passing out parade.

The director-general argued further that for prospective corps members to qualify to receive certificate of national service, they must go through the four stages of national service.

Olawumi faulted a situation whereby prospective corps members, especially pregnant women and nursing mothers, would be absent from the stages of the national service, only to resurface for posting to their various places of primary assignments.

Meanwhile, the resolution of the 2015 ‘B’ Pre-Mobilisation workshop added that henceforth, documents for concessional posting request on marital or health grounds would be forwarded on-line as against the old practice of “bringing such to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja”.

It noted that prospective corps members would henceforth be given the opportunity to choose their choice outside their socio-cultural and linguistic areas, using ICT solution.

This, according to the NYSC, is in a bid to tackle the problems of deluge of concessional request with which the agency is being inundated.

Source : Punch

First Class Graduates, Polytechnic Distinction Holders To Now Serve In Varsities

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig.-Gen.Johnson Olawumi, has said that prospective corps members with First Class degrees would now be posted to universities for their primary assignments. He also mentioned that corps members who graduated with distinction from polytechnics will also be posted to universities to carry out their primary assignments.

Female Corps Member Raped To Death By 51 Year Old, Others In Kwara

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A 51 year old man and his gang members raped a corps member to death.A prosecutor of the Kwara State Police Command, Mr. Matthew Ologbon, has informed an Ilorin Magistrate’s Court,that a female National Youth Service Corps member, Miss Yetunde Idowu was raped to death by a 51-year-old man, Abdullahi Tanko, and his gang members.

PUNCH Metro reports that, Idowu’ corpse was found at the Ilorin GRA.The police prosecutor told the court that on May 23, at about 12pm, the police found Idowu in a pool of blood.

Ologbon told the court that investigation by the police revealed that Tanko and his collaborators, now at large, tricked Idowu from her residence to Fate Road, where they raped her to death.He added that Tanko and his gang members raped the deceased inside their car.

He said,

“After they had raped Idowu, they carried her dead body to a nearby junction. The police located Tanko’s house through the blood traces of the deceased and the suspected killer was arrested.The mobile phone of the deceased was found with Tanko.”

Yahaya ordered that Tanko be remanded in prison, while he adjourned the case till August 10, 2015.

3 Corps Members, Driver Die In Delta Car Crash

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Staff Reporter

No fewer than four people, including three National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, were feared dead as a Nissan Primera travelling along the Kwale road in Delta State rammed into a stationary truck after its back tyre pulled off at the weekend.

The incident happened after Ishelegu junction as the driver was heading to Kwale.

It was gathered that the car driver, whose name could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, was said to have rushed his ill relative to an undisclosed hospital but, before they got to the Hospital, the (sick relative) gave up the ghost and his corpse was deposited in a morgue.

On his way back home with much grief, he was said to have picked up three NYSC members in his car. However, as he sped along the Kwale road, one of the back tyres pulled out and he lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a truck parked on the left side of the road.

When our correspondent visited the scene, the corpses of the dead traveler and driver had been taken away but traces of blood and the ruins of the damaged vehicle and truck were seen.

NYSC DG Tasks Rivers Politicians & Supporters On Peace, Assures Safety Of Corps Members

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Politicians in Rivers and their supporters have been advised to ensure that peace prevailed in the state during the governorship and House of Assembly elections on Saturday. Director- General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Johnson Olawumi, gave the advice on Thursday in Port Harcourt while addressing NYSC members in the state. “I want to use this opportunity to call on politicians in Rivers state that they should please plead with their supporters not to perpetrate violence during the elections,” he said.

Olawumi, however, assured no fewer than 4,631 corps members in the state, including those that would participate in the elections, of their safety. He urged them to go about their electoral duties without fear, saying that it was part of their national assignment. He advised the corps members against arguments with people on any issue whenever their lives were threatened. “When you are under threat; if anybody threatens you at gun point, don’t just argue, let him snatch whatever he wants to snatch way.

“Your security is paramount; go back and do your report and we make the report available to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and result of such place will be cancelled,” he said.

The director-general also advised the NYSC members to alert security agencies whenever they sensed danger to enable security personnel rescue them. “I want you to help us as far as your security is concerned. When you notice that something is going wrong, just quickly make a call and we will get people to come and rescue you,” he advised. He told the corps members to remain neutral while performing the electoral duties, saying, “we want you as much as possible to be very neutral, maintain your neutrality, do not be biased, perform your duty professionally”.

In his contribution, Koko Essien, Commander of 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, said dedicated security telephone numbers of military personnel on patrol duty would be passed to NYSC members on election duty. According to him, once a call comes from any of three dedicated lines, the patrol team will know it is from an NYSC member in distress and will go for rescue operation. Essien advised the corps members not to wait until they were in danger before making calls to the numbers, saying “you should call the moment you sense danger”.

Credit: NAN

NYSC Denies Death Of Corps Members In Gombe

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has denied that any corps member was killed on election duty in Gombe State. This was contained in a statement signed by NYSC’s Director of Press and Public Relations. Bose Aderibigbe.

Aderigbigbe said the reports that youth corps members were killed were false. She said that the two persons who lost their lives were INEC’s ad-hoc staff and not corps members.

The management of the NYSC, however, commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the said attack.

Read More: Thisday

#NigeriDecides2015 : Bauchi Results Will Not Be Affected By Boko Haram Attacks, Says INEC

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Bauchi State, Hamman Tukur, has said that Saturday’s attacks on some polling units in Darazo, Kirfi and Alkaleri towns will have no effect on election results.

Reacting on Sunday to the attacks by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram, Mr. Tukur noted that the attacks took place when polls had closed in Kirfi and Alkaleri.

He said that the attacks took place while elections were on in Darazo.

Mr. Tukur said that INEC was informed in good time about the attacks, and that that it reported the matter to security agencies which responded promptly.

According to him, no life was lost to the attacks, and no serious damage done to materials.

“The matter was brought under control in Darazo, and voting continued normally,” he added.

The REC said that INEC was also aware of a case of hoarding of result sheets by some officials.

He said that the case was reported to security agencies and information on the suspected persons handed over to them.

“We got information that some polling units in Bauchi metropolis were not given result sheets even though we dispatched them.

“We alerted security agencies and gave them details of eight persons suspected to be behind the problem.

“Three have already been arrested and are in police custody while we supplied extra result sheets to the affected polling units through the electoral officer in charge of Bauchi (Town)”, he said.

Mr. Tukur also said that results were still being expected from collation centres in local government areas and would soon reach the commission’s headquarters.

(NAN)

Hoodlums Shoot At Police, Soldiers Escorting Corps Members #NigeriaDecides2015

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Staff Reporter

237

Sporadic shootings was witnessed around 10:30am Saturday in Ozuaha community in Ikwerre Local Government Area. Thugs who had barricaded the road into the town, opened fire on a team of policemen and military police escorting Corps members to their polling unit.

The gun duel which lasted for about 25 minutes, has since left the town looking like a ghostyard. According to a police officer who helped brought the situation under control, the armed thugs advanced towards Ubima, hometown of governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi.

As a result of the development, the corpers and electoral materials were kept in several buses, preparing to leave the community. Our correspondent who arrived the area 5 minutes after the gun duel, saw pieces of shattered ballot boxes on the major road leading into the town. Tension was still very high when our correspondent left the area 30 minutes later.

2015 General Elections: Letter To My Fellow Corps Members By Ojekunle, Alex Aderemi

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Ajuwaya fellow Corps members and good citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is with deep sense of modesty and high modicum of respect that I write to you today on the forthcoming general elections. It is very pertinent and germane to urge us to reawaken the spirit of patriotism and selfless service in this country, especially at this critical period in the history of Nigeria, towards upholding its honour and glory: a stage where we decide who governs and steers the affairs of this country for another four years. Whatever decision we make, we should be sure that it will have significant effect on us and posterity, either positively or the other way.
Our inputs as ad-hoc electoral officers during the elections will be a road map for the Nigeria we all aspire and desire to live in and expect our offspring to serve. Our actions during the forthcoming elections should be more of a clarion call and our activities should portray that of a patriotic citizen of the country with the largest concentration of black people. It is our duty to shun every forms of electoral brinkmanship, malpractices and violence.

The ineffable role of corps members, in all states of the federation and Nigeria in general, cannot be unacknowledged, understated or unheeded. Notwithstanding, corps members’ contribution to this nation, during elections, can also not be well compensated with political appointment, money, largesse or whatever greek gift that politicians could push forward. Our role in the upcoming elections is a duty that protects the mandate of the people towards reshaping the country to a better environment for you and I which will consequently provide an enabling environment for us all – job opportunities, better welfare, stable water and electric supply, among others which should not be traded for an immediate reward but for a reward that will benefit the nation, the economy, and coming generations.

It is on this note, that I enjoin all members of the National Youth Service Corps to be diligent, assiduous and morally upright during the elections in order to guarantee us a nation where travesty and parody of justice will go into extinction.
We can make the poll a credible and generally-acceptable election by being extremely wary, disciplined, indefatigable and conscious during the electioneering process.
We need to obey the clarion call to serve with good and pure mind.

God bless Nigeria.
OJEKUNLE, Alex Aderemi
NYSC Akure

@RemmyAlex

Viewss expressed are solely that of author and has no association with www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

Jonathan Gives 164 Ex-corps Members Automatic Employment

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Staff Reporter

President Goodluck Jonathan, at an NYSC 2012-2014 Honours and Awards, grants automatic jobs and scholarship to 164 ex-corps members who attended the event today.

More details to follow later

NYSC Member Commits Suicide As Girlfriend Dumps Him For Another

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The body of a 26-year-old National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, member, identified as Ernest, was, Wednesday, recovered from his one room apartment after he reportedly took a poisonous substance.

Reports indicated that the young man, who was in love with a fellow NYSC member, Chioma Okewuru, went berserk when the girl came back from her village over the weekend with a ring from a man she had promised to marry.

Ernest, who is from Edo State and a graduate of the University of Benin, was posted to Cross River State in October, where he met and fell in love with Chioma, and both were serving in Redemption Secondary School, Ofombogha 1 in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross Rivers State.

Mr. Noah Ntuen, Acting Divisional Police Officer for Obubra told Vanguard on phone: “The girl had told the guy that she would not marry him, but that they could be friends. So when she came back from home last weekend and showed him the ring her husband-to-be gave her, the young man became furious.

“On Wednesday, the situation became worse and at about 7pm, he locked himself in the room and took some poisonous substances.”

A source in the school told Vanguard: “They met at the NYSC Orientation Camp at Abrekpe-Ebokpo and as luck would have it, they were both posted to the same school where they had a relationship going.

“He had the hope the whole thing would end in marriage, but Chioma already had another person she wants to marry.”
Ntuen said the body had been deposited in the mortuary of Obubra General Hospital, while Chioma is with the police, where investigations on the circumstances surrounding the tragic death are in progress.

How INEC Intends to Protect Corps Members During Election

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Staff Reporter

National Youth Service Corps members who would be participating in the 2015 general elections have been assured of their safety during and after the elections.

This assurance has been stressed by both the leadership of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission

Speaking with newsmen, The Director General of the NYSC scheme, Brigadier General Johnson Olawumi, said provision has been placed on ground to ensure the protection of lives of NYSC members before, during and after the electoral activities.

He revealed that the NYSC was partnering with some Nigeria security agencies to see that the lives of all the corps members are protected and also to ensure that their welfare and logistics were adequately taken care of during the election.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Comminnisoner in Cross River State, Dr Okay Ezeanyi, while visiting the NYSC secretariat in the state, equally assured corps members that they would be secure. “It is the duty of INEC to provide adequate security for corps members, who will be used as ad hoc staff for the 2015 elections.”

While advising corps members to be of good conduct during the 2015 elections activities, Dr. Ezeanyi noted that they would be paid for their services.

Credit: vanguardngr.com,

Development on the Disorder in PH NYSC Camp

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Staff Reporter

More reports from the NYSC orientation camp in Port Harcourt provides that the furious protest by NYSC corps members has resulted into throwing of the “nonesense food” given to them by the camp coordinators.

According to a corps member, corpers have matched to the state coordinator’s lodge for further enquiries into why they have not been paid their first “allowee”, while others have finally resolved to express their frustration by throwing away the breakfast that was served to them from the camp kitchen, addressing it as “nonsense food”.

The state coordinator is seen in the photo addressing corps members in a blue shirt, positioned at the centre of the photo.

Opposition to NYSC N4000 Charge is Misleading- Tope Adesipo

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Staff Reporter

I was almost joining protests against what I initially thought were exploitative and unnecessary steps being taken by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) over the online registration of prospective corps members. I observed quiet a few opposing views to it Many of which queried why fresh graduate should be asked to pay such outrageous amount. I was almost joining the bandwagon because of the preponderance of opinion.

Fortunately for me, Japheth Omojuwa weighed in on the matter and invited the NYSC DG for a tweet chat which threw light on the whole matter. The NYSC DG stated that the 4000 is optional and not mandatory I quickly paused and retraced. And may I say the bandwagon effect on social media particularly twitter is epic anyway I discovered I was on the verge of barking up the wrong tree.

As I discovered from the DG that day, that the N4000 for printing of call up letter was not mandatory for all prospective corps members. I had to check the tweet from the DG that states that particular line again to be sure it says the correct thing. The 4000 is not mandatory and prospective Corp members who wished to go to their institutions to pick up theirs can do so without any penalty. I wanted to be sure I was not getting the whole thing mixed up.

From then, I started wondering what would have caused the uproar about the fee. My thinking was this may well be smacks of mischief and hypocrisy or how would you describe a situation where people raise opposition to a fantastic opportunity for students who schooled very far away from their home and foreign students?

I was posted to Lagos, I schooled in Abeokuta. You know what transportation cost is even from Lagos to Abeokuta. But if mine was easy as it may seems, what about my foreign students friends? They all narrated their ordeal at processing and getting call up letters in Abuja while in camp. Having to travel to Abuja severally and all the stress and risk involve with traveling by road in Nigeria or even flying is enough to pay more than N4000 for. But that is even for a foreign students, what about Kolapo who lived in Lagos but schooled at Ahmadu Bello university Zaria? Should he travel about 16 hours to pick up call up letter? And let’s assume he is posted to Akwa Ibom, he would have to be on the road for about 3 days. Now, I have lost count on how many prospective corp members that have lost their lives during transit with this arrangement in the past. Makes me wonder why the initiative didn’t come earlier, maybe those lives would have been saved.

The NYSC position that it is optional makes it a matter of choice. It’s like having rice to cook at home but you closed late from work and you choose to visit Tastee fried chicken (TFC) to get rice. The most important thing is you get to eat rice either way but considering various variables you choose which is best for you. You got to a car station, you are presented with an option of an automatic or a manual, both of course having same functions. A car is car but of course the choice is yours based on certain variables that you might have considered. Now we want the NYSC to provide the service for free? That’s where the hypocrisy comes in. If you accept that we should have public and private varsities, then you have no moral ground to continue to complain about this fee. Why? Because we have come to accept the reality that at some point the society needs to be presented with a choice of the same service. And the alternative may not be cheap. I paid 14K per year throughout my 5years in the university when you press your calculator the entire fee is not up to half of what Covenant university pays in a year. But maybe I digressed a little. Fact is the man who went to Covenant university and myself, either way, are both graduates of a university in Nigeria but I chose which is best for me based on certain things I considered. You tell us there are no free lunch in Freetown, you believe there is no way LASU students should pay as low as 25K becoause it’s too small and you didn’t talk about government funding Education to at least meet up UNESCO’s standard of 26.6%. How do you want me to listen when you say Government should cater for the N4000 charge in its budget. It is the height of hypocrisy in my opinion. I look at the NLC position on the matter for instance, nothing best describes the hypocrisy of the NLC. Last year during the ASUU struggle the only role a supposed workers and Masses movement played was to to be use as conduit to pressurize its affiliate to give in to Government. Various other disgraceful roles of the NLC from 2012 till date are well documented. Now it sees an opportunity in here to score cheap popularity the NLC opposition to it is misleading, lame and could be detrimental to this laudable initiative. We are talking about Government reducing it’s spending right? But we want this to be in 2015 budget. I see “Kagawa’s logic” at its very best here.

Some people believe we should dismiss the claim that it is optional. They based their argument on the fact that this is Nigeria and we are Nigerians and as such sooner or later, the fee will be made compulsory for prospective Corp members . I think why the country remains the way it is, is because we have come to accept absurdity as the norm. We say “Sebi this is Nigeria, certain things must be abnormal and we will accept it”. If we as citizens do not think the promise the organisation made about it not being mandatory is a promise it must live up to, or if we do not not think the onus is on us as citizens to hold them accountable to their words, then we are the real problem here. I believe this is what the agitations should be all about. Not outright scrapping of the initiative. Our concern should be that the services are also provided for a Bimbo who schooled at the University of Lagos but stays in Ikorodu. Ensuring she still has the option of going to Akoka to pick her call up letter. That option must stay intact for as long as the other exist. That is where the docile national assembly members looking for popularity can come in, that is where NLC can hold the NYSC accountable not rejecting this laudable initiative and its lifeline in its entirety.

Tope Adesipo Lagos, Nigeria

@tope414