The House of Representatives is to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of six youth corps members during the year as a result of health related issues.
Consequently, the Director General (DG) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brig. General Sule Kazaure will appear before an ad hoc Committee of the House to brief the lawmakers on the circumstances that led to the avoidable deaths at the Orientation camps.
The investigation was also to ensure that appropriate sanctions were given to NYSC officials or Corps members found culpable of negligence for the death of the corps members.
The lawmakers have also urged the Federal government, in collaboration with State governments to establish permanent orientation camps fully equipped with medical facilities in all states of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Federal government was also urged to make provision for the permanent Orientation camps in the 2017 budget.
In addition, the lawmakers urged the Federal government to provide health insurance scheme for corps members during the service year.
The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of two motions on the death of Miss Ifedolapo Oladepo and others at orientation camps.
Olufemi Fakeye (APC, Osun), in his motion regretted that Oladepo, a 26 years old first class graduate of Aviation and Transport Management of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology died as a result of inadequate medical facilities at the Kano State Orientation camp and the refusal of camp officials to provide instant medical attention for her when she complained of health challenges.
“She was even frogged-jumped by camp officials for reporting late for the morning parade when she resumed at the camp.
“But this was an exhausted lady who stayed in the commercial vehicle that took her to Kano because of the time she got to there before proceeding to the Orientation camp in the morning.
“On getting to the camp, she was marched straight for registration.
“She fell sick a few days and she reported her condition to the camp authorities immediately but the officials did not believe her thinking that she feigned the sickness in order to dodge the routine strenuous exercises which is part of camp activities,” he said.
According to the lawmaker, it was too late for Oladepo by the time medical assistance eventually came when she was given placebo and injected with some substances that led to rashes all over her body and got her tongue twisted.
On his part, Olabode Ayorinde (APC, Ondo) said all Orientation camps in the country require immediate attention while wondering how armed robbers could attack Zamfara for two hours.
He expressed disappointment about a situation where armed security personnel manning orientation camp gates would not allow parents access to their children without being embarrassed while armed robbers would, ironically have two hours to operate without hindrance.
He said there was serious health crisis in most orientation camps that requires urgent attention.
The Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, who recalled that six death occurred in orientation camps across the country in 2016 due to health related factors, however noted that an unfit corps member would find the rigours of camp routines difficult to keep up with.
The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.