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Tag: National Youth Service Corps

  • Adeosun:  A rather belated exit

    Last Friday, Kemi Adeosun resigned from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari as Minister of Finance over allegation of forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate. The story about this forged NYSC exemption certificate broke out in July through a Premium Times report, and since that time there had been intense pressure on her to resign from her ministerial post and in the event of her failure to resign, President Buhari  was asked to sack her. Since the report broke out, nothing was heard from the former minister until her recent action on Friday which I consider to be rather belated if one judges by her background.

    As somebody who grew up into adulthood in United Kingdom, she should know that as a public officer, the only action opened to her in order to maintain her honour was to resign immediately such a serious an infraction on her part was brought out in the public. This is the path of honour usually followed by public officers caught in similar situation in the clime where she grew up.

    For failing to resign in time, the former minister made herself a subject of ridicule in the media. In recent times, people talked less of the good work she was doing in the Ministry of Finance but concentrated on the forged certificate saga. She eventually became a pitiable political football, kicked about by the supporters and opponents of the government. It is a pity that some top government functionaries did not see anything wrong in her presentation of forged NYSC exemption certificate. What mattered to these people who are well learned was the so-called good work she was doing for her fatherland. It is also nauseating for us in this country that most Nigerians view issues of probity and accountability through dim political prism. The praise heaped on the minister after her resignation by the APC spokesman that she showed strength of character and integrity in my view should have been spot on if she had resigned immediately the scandal hit the political airwaves.

    One can only hope that this unfortunate episode would not blight the career of this brilliant technocrat because whatever sympathy one may have for the beleaguered former minister, presentation of a forged certificate is a punishable criminal act. It is unfortunate that her ‘trusted associates’ procured for her a forged certificate signed by an officer that was no longer in the service.

    The resignation of the minister has raised some issues which I shall discuss briefly.

    In her letter or resignation, the former minister said that that she presented the forged certificate to Ogun State legislature when she was being screened for the post of a commissioner in that state in 2011. The same forged certificate was also used for her clearance in the National Assembly when she was screened for the post of a federal minister in 2015.

    These revelations speak volumes about the much-touted efficiency and professionalism of the country’s Department of State Services. This department is the primary domestic intelligence agency in Nigeria and it failed in the duty of authenticating the genuineness of the certificate presented by this lady for the two screenings. This dereliction of by this department has no doubt embarrassed both the Ogun State government and the federal government. The efficiency of this department should not be measured solely by the way the dreaded DSS operatives invade houses of people in commando-like style at night. Ordinary task of authenticating the genuineness of a certificate especially one issued by another government agency should not be a taunting task to a department with such awesome power and facilities like our DSS.  Many people in the country feel that the fear of the DSS operatives is the beginning of wisdom. It does not portray the department in good light that what its operatives fail to discover on two occasions was discovered and brought to light probably by an enterprising investigative reporter of Premium Times.

    One can only hope that the failure of the DSS to verify the authenticity of Mrs Adeosun’s NYSC exemption certificate was not due to political influence. In order for the department to maintain its credibility among Nigerians, the DSS should avoid any government interference in its operations. At present, many opponents of the government feel that some of the actions of the DSS are being influenced by the government.

    One salutary outcome from the resignation of the former minister is that henceforth, any public officer who falls short of the standard required by the office he or she is occupying should not hesitate to resign because this is only path of honour opened to the officer. We used to have this culture in the past but gradually it has been eroded. In the pre-independence Nigeria, we had an example of this culture when in 1955 the late AlhajiAdegokeAdelabu had to resign as Minister of Social Services at the federal level after an inquiry into Ibadan Divisional Council where he was the chairman. In the Obasanjo military administration, the Minister of Finance then was forced to resign as a result of persistent petitions on his fidelity. In the civil service also, there was a notable case of an executive in the Lagos Executive Development Board (LEDB) who was accused of acquiring many plots of land by a member of parliament. This executive had to resign as a result of this accusation in the parliament.

    All the above examples are there for us to follow in order to entrench probity in our public service but unfortunately, people in government allow political considerations to influence their considerations. The cases of Abdul-Rasheed Maina, chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms and that of Professor Usman Yusuf, the boss of National Health Insurance Scheme are sour examples of sordid cover-up of malfeasances perpetrated by public officers. These officers should not be in service by any consideration now. The case of Babachir David Lawal the erstwhile Secretary to the Government of the Federation who was involved in N200 million grass cutting scandal should have been in the same category but for his firing six months after the scandal broke out.

    The resignation of Mrs Kemi Adeosunhas rightly beamed a powerful searchlight on the NYSC service records of some of our top political office holders. These politicians whose names are mentioned in the social media owe it as a duty to Nigerians to place before the public their service records with NYSC. After all, what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. The resignation of Adeosun painful as it, could in the end help to inculcate in our public officers of the need for them to resign when they are found wanting in the offices they hold.

     

    • Professor Lucas writes from Old Bodija, Ibadan.

  • Edojobs, Google, Gidimobile to deploy learning app to students

    Edo State Government has concluded plans to partner Google and Gidimobile, Africa’s first mobile learning platform, to deploy a learning application called gidimo to at least 20,000 Senior Secondary School students in Edo State, to improve learning outcomes.

    The partnership is being anchored by Edojobs, Edo state’s job creation and skills development platform, which will work with the companies, to mobilise not less than 150 ‘activators,’ to deliver the mobile software to the students.

    Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Skills Development and Job Creation, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, who disclosed this to journalists, said that the partnership is aimed at providing innovative learning solutions to secondary school students as well as empowering those who would work as activators across the state.

    She said the programme is the offshoot of gidimo’s rollout of the app to 100,000 disadvantaged youths across the world, after winning a $1million grant from google.org. She said the deployment of the software will be piloted in Edo State, after which it will be rolled out across the country.

    According to her, “Governor Obaseki’s reforms and style of governance has once again attracted a landmark project to the state. This time, secondary school students will be the beneficiaries.

    To start the campaign in Edo State, 20,000 students will be granted free access to the gidimo application for a period of one year. A 45 mins to one-hour playtime after school (Monday to Saturday) will be needed to cover the syllabus, after which each user gets 300MB of data at the completion of their syllabus weekly. A competition amongst users/students with the application will be held every week, with the best user rewarded.

    Read Also: Google overhauls gmail to lure businesses

    She noted that teachers and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members will participate in the programme and will be assigned to schools as activators for the exercise, to sensitise students about the application, how to access and use the app for free.

    “This will come with a small remuneration (about N16,000) from funds allotted for data in the grant received from Google. The app will also allow for activators to earn some money from the retail sales/activation they do.”

    On the mode of operation in the pilot phase, she said, “A sample of 5-10 public schools in the state will be selected to pilot the campaign. The academic performance of students using the gidimo app in these schools will be compared with those not using the application to identify the efficacy of the application on the students under survey.

    “National competition will be held weekly across various subjects on the application. This is can be in an organised event platform, which can be used to spread the government’s message on its effort towards improving the educational sector in the state.”

  • Respite for NYSC as Obiano relocates Anambra office

    The Anambra State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr. Aremu Kehinde has expressed appreciation to the state governor, Willie Obiano for donating a new office complex to the organization.

    The Coordinator made the disclosure on Saturday during the swearing in ceremony of the 2018 Batch ‘B’ (Stream II) Orientation course in Umunya, Oyi local council area of the state.

    He said the need for relocation of the office became expedient following the space congestion challenge, occasioned by steady expansion of the scheme since 27 years of its existence in the state.

    “The community town hall which had housed the scheme since 1991 the state was created was no longer accommodating us in view of the steady expansion of the administrative structure.

    “We made the complaint to the governor and after seeing reason for a more befitting structure, graciously donated a building complex to us,” he added.

    Read Also: ‘Obiano should resolve Nkwo market crisis’

    Kehinde who also lauded Obiano for being among the state governors that had been faithful in the payment of allowances of corps members, said the magnanimity was a demonstration of his passion for the youths in the state.

    He urged the corps members to reciprocate the gesture through their commitment and selfless service both to their host communities and to the state in general.

    Declaring the orientation course open, Governor Obiano challenged the corps members to take the service year seriously, saying the success of the programme depended on the foundation laid during the orientation camp.

    Obiano, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, urged them to take advantage of the training to equip themselves to become job creators and not seekers, pledging provision of enabling environment for maximum productivity.

    A total of 1261 and 746 corps members deployed to Anambra and Enugu states respectively, participated in the ceremony.

  • NYSC DG urges corps members to embrace small businesses

    Brigadier Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has charged corps members to engage in small-scale businesses after their service year to enable them to be self-reliant.

    Kazaure gave the advice on Friday when he paid an inspection visit to the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Kusalla, Karaye Local Government Area of Kano State.

    The NYSC director-general was in Kano State to inspect the ongoing orientation course of 2018 Batch ‘B’ Stream II.

    He enjoined the corps members to participate actively in all camp activities and avoid unnecessary travels throughout the service year.

    Kazaure said that in an effort to address accommodation challenges confronting corps members, the agency would request state governments to build corpers’ lodge in each of the 774 local government areas across the nation.

    Read Also: Davido’s presence electrifies NYSC camp

    The NYSC boss, who cautioned the corps members against patronising nightclubs, urged them to shun all acts of indiscipline and immorality.

    The director-general commended the state of facilities in the camp and urged the management of the NYSC in the state to ensure that they were properly maintained.

    He said that as part of efforts to improve the welfare of the corps members, the Federal Government had recently increased their transportation and feeding allowances.

    Earlier, the state NYSC Coordinator, Alhaji Ladan Baba, said that over 2,100 corps members for Borno and Kano states were registered in the camp.

    NAN

  • Ayade urges NYSC members to participate in Carnival

    Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has called on members of the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) posted to the state to participate in this year’s edition of the famous Carnival Calabar which comes up in December.

    Addressing the 2018 Batch B, Stream 2 corps members during their swearing in ceremony at the permanent orientation camp in Obubra Local Government Area, Ayade said they came at a time when preparations for the carnival are in top gear.

    Ayade who was represented by the Director, General Services and Administration, Obubra Local Government Council, Mr Richard Okpa, said the government was working tirelessly to ensure that the safety of corps members is guaranteed.

    He urged them to see their time in the state as an opportunity to contribute to the development of the state and country.

    “While you continue to render selfless services to the state, my administration will continue to expand welfare windows for your comfort,” Ayade said.

    State Coordinator of the NYSC in the state, Ambekemo Eniola, lauded the prospective Corps members for successful graduation and mobilization for national service.

    She said as soon as the swearing in ceremony is over, the Corps members would be coopted to belong to different Camp Committees to enable them learn leadership skills, adopt Entrepreneurship spirit amongst others.

    She hoped that as the orientation course progresses, there would not be any cause to sanction the corps members for negative actions for any reasons whatsoever.

    She expressed gratitude to all who made the exercise a success.

  • Davido to Nigerian youths: Tie up every loose ends!

    *signs up for National Youth service Corps

    Nigeria’s music sensation David Adeleke otherwise called Davido may have sent a direct advise to Nigerian youths to put their records right as they undertake the journey of life.

    The Music graduate who has made a huge career of his passion registered for the mandatory one year National Youth Service corps on Tuesday while indirectly urging the Nigerian youth not to take anything for granted. Otondo OBO … ?? #Nysc .. Tying up  every loose end!” The 25 year old dished out on his twitter handle @iam_Davido

    The twit was followed by a picture of the musical idol in NYSC Uniform as he sat on one of his eye popping rides.

    Davido who only recently celebrated the arrival of his private jet will no doubt inspire many academically inclined youths in the country with his decision to key into the mandatory one year service three years after bagging a bachelors degree in Music.

    Davido graduated from Babcock University, Ilisan- Remo, Ogun State, in 2015 after completing his course in music. His graduation ceremony it will be recalled attracted crème dela crème of the society including respected producer of popular track ‘Doro buchi’ done in collaboration with high flying female artist Tiwa Savage.

    Davido who has been hailed by some of his fans for taking the step will expectedly partake in all the known sporting activities in camp viz endurance trek,inter platoon football competition, tug of war to mention just  few.  There are strong indications that while in camp Davido may be drafted to play a role in the Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS) which aside from passing information/announcement to corps members in camp also conducts live interviews and request shows.

    The compulsory one year National Service for graduates in the country was introduced in 1973 under the regime of under General Yakubu Gowon.

    Recall that Davido featured in the World Cup theme song for Super Eagles ahead of the last world cup in Russia in the form of video with commercial soft drink company pepsi.  The video which became instant hit also featured other pop stars like Wizkid and Tiwa Savage alongside midfield maestro Jay Jay Okocha and Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi.

     

     

     

  • NYSC condoles with families of dead members

    …declares three day mourning

    The management of the National Youth Service Corps has expressed condolences to the families over the death of seven of its members in Taraba state, declaring a three-day mourning.

    The NYSC, in a statement issued by its Director, Press and Public Relations, Adeyemi Adenike, on Monday in Abuja, confirmed that the bodies of seven members of the scheme who drowned in a river southeast of Taraba state, have been recovered while two others are still missing.

    The management therefore directed that the NYSC flags nationwide be flown half-mast beginning from Monday (today).

    The statement reads: “The entire NYSC Family is shocked and saddened by the cruel twist of fate that befell our Corps Members who drowned as a result of the sudden increase in water volume and surge of the River Mayo-Selbe, near the Gashaka falls in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State.

    Read Also: Nine NYSC members drown in Taraba

    “The serving Corps Members had on Saturday, 4th August, 2018 left their Places of Primary Assignment and embarked on a picnic at the site before the unfortunate incident.

    “Seven bodies have so far been recovered from the river by the local divers and security agents while the search for the remaining two missing Corps Members is ongoing.

    “Management has therefore declared a three-day mourning for the souls of our departed heroes, beginning from Monday, 6th August during which NYSC flags nationwide would fly half-mast.

    “Our prayers and condolences are with the families and the Scheme covets your prayers at this moment.”

     

  • NYSC allowance as metaphor

    I wonder for how long youth corps members will have to wait for their miserable allowance to be reviewed upward. This matter has been talked about several times, especially by the current Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen Suleiman Kazaure. One could feel the fatherly concern of Kazaure on this matter; unfortunately, there is nothing he can do if the approval does not come from above.

    Kazaure raised corps members’ hope again last Thursday, while inspecting the NYSC Orientation Camp in Abuja: “The Federal Government is working to increase your monthly allowance. Therefore, wherever you find yourselves, conduct yourself well and be good ambassadors for the country. We received a letter from the Presidency through the Ministry of Youth and Sports and copied to the Ministry of Finance, which shows that the corps members’ allowance will be reviewed upward. This is in the pipeline.”

    In Nigeria, when government says something is in the pipeline, it is often saying that thing may never see the light of day; it may jolly well rot in the pipeline. It is like when some executives say they are working on something when, in actual fact, what they mean is that they are not working on it.

    For those who are conversant with how government works here, particularly when it comes to an issue like the minimum wage, tying the review of corps members’ stipend to minimum wage is government’s way of saying the review is still a long way from reality.

    What we have is therefore a situation whereby corps members who are supposed to be doing national service are still being catered for by their parents. Parents who do not want their children to suffer during the one year national service find ways of augmenting their miserable allowance. In essence, therefore, it is still the parents that should be resting after going through thick and thin to see their children get educated up to the tertiary level that still pick some of their bills during the compulsory service year. In other words, the parents are subsidising their children’s upkeep while the latter are supposed to be serving their fatherland. And this in a country where there is no guarantee that the children would get jobs, lucrative or otherwise, after the service year! So, in a sense, it is not just the corps members’ suffering that continues even after the service year, even that of their parents too, because, at a time they should be sucking from the proverbial children’s breasts, the parents are still the ones forced to squeeze out milk from their dry breasts. The children often become disillusioned because the expected milk is not coming out of their parents’ breasts. A Yoruba proverb says omo lo mo omu iya on to lomi (it is the child that knows how succulent his mother’s breasts are).

    This is most heartless; especially against the backdrop of the scandalous pay members of the National Assembly pay themselves monthly. It shows how far many of those who are ruling us are from God. This is also why it is laughable when some of them who are facing some of the toughest challenges of their lives are now saying they are enduring the tough times in the interest of democracy. Which democracy? Whose democracy? When people who for the better part of their lives have been like leeches on the system now find the vaults shut against them, they remember to fight for democracy. Democracy my foot!  Let them go tell that to the marines! Where we operate a true democracy, people would have invaded the National Assembly (as our own Bastille), among other places, to drive away those who are buying and selling there in the name of making laws for us, or in the name of democracy.

    But if the NYSC stipend is too small, it is only a reflection of the hypocrisy that characterises wage determination in the country. Salaries are small across-the-board, especially in the public service. Only those in politics have been criminally inventive in devising some other means of taking money from the public till. Even civil servants too, that some have renamed ‘evil servants’ because of the attitude of some of them to work, generally, are poorly paid.

    It is only in sections of the private sector that efforts and achievements are bountifully rewarded. And the difference is clear; as many people would even tell you these days that government has no business being in business and should therefore vacate the business space for those who are well equipped to handle it. One wonders why government itself has not been outsourced then. Or, what is left when we are suddenly waking up to the reality that government can no longer do successfully those things it used to do well? So, instead of probing into the corruption that has thrown this incapability up, we simply pass the buck and move on. Yet, each senator, for example, gets nothing less than N13million monthly, more than what about 722 workers get monthly at the current N18,000 minimum wage.

    Yet, it is the same government that is stalling the upward review of the minimum wage, despite the fact that it knows it cannot take anyone home. What this country needs are not public officials who will endure hardship because of democracy. We need God-fearing leaders, not the present rulers who are posing as leaders. A God-fearing leader would not have to be prodded before realising that because of the way they have messed up our economy, N18,000 minimum wage cannot take care of a family of four. How many of those who are dilly-dallying over the upward review of the minimum wage give such peanut to their children; some of them even have dogs that they maintain at public expense with probably 10 times that amount. Yet, it is when workers ask for a review of minimum wage that they suddenly remember that there is no money to back such demands. But the money will surface when it comes to matters of their own comfort and undue indulgence.

    Before those conversant with my position on minimum wage take me up for making a volte face to now be advocating for review of minimum wage, I again restate my preference for good governance to unending demand for new minimum wage. It is true that minimum wage is reviewed periodically in many countries, but it is not the way we do it here, with very high margins in-between. Here, it can be as high as 200 per cent. Although Labour’s justification for that is that it has to be so because it sometimes takes as long as 10 or more years before reviews are done here. If workers are able to fight for good governance, we may not need to raise minimum wage by more than the percentage it is raised in other places. In 2004, for instance, our minimum wage was N5,500.00 per month. It was raised to the present N18,000 per month in 2011, barely seven years after. I do not know of any civilised country where minimum wage jumps at such progression in a seven-year period.

    All said, we are not likely to conquer corruption until we know how to pay a living (minimum) wage. When we hear what directors and permanent secretaries earn, we know we have not started the anti-corruption war. These same people who earn peanut in spite of their big titles are still given the offer of first refusal in buying their official apartments upon retirement. Yet, we know that it is only if that perm sec had not touched his salary throughout his career years that he can pay for such apartment. Yet, we still go ahead to sell to him without anyone asking questions, especially since he is not permitted to have another business while in service.

    Now, Brigadier-General Kazaure is asking youth corps members not to engage in electoral malpractices when drafted for ad-hoc election duties. Is it the person that you are given peanut that you expect that much from? We should stop kidding ourselves. These boys and girls, even if they do not want to be compromised, still have their lives to value. So, it would not be out of place for them to look the other way when election riggers, armed with all their usual weapons, are at work. Corps members had been killed in the past while doing their bit as electoral officers. How many of the perpetrators have been prosecuted not to talk of convicted for the murder of the youth corps members?

    Let the files on the NYSC stipend review move faster on whichever table they get to. Pay these children reasonably instead of tying their fate to minimum wage which involves not just economic considerations but also has political implications. Those who are in charge know how to facilitate the process if really they are keen. This is not the time to bring out calculators that they hardly use for themselves. Permit me to repeat the expression I used last week: let’s separate Genesis from Exodus. In other words, let’s not tie review of corp members’ stipend to minimum wage.

  • FG begins review of corps members’ allowance

    The Federal Government has commenced a review of the Monthly allowance paid to corps members, Director General, National Youth Service Corps, Brig. Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, has disclosed.

    He said the NYSC, through the Ministry of Youth and Sport Development received a letter from the Presidency indicating that the process to review the allowance of corps members had started.

    Kazaure said the Presidency also copied the Ministry of Finance in the letter.

    The DG disclosed this during a tour of the NYSC orientation camp at the nation’s capital on Thursday.

    He said: “The federal government is working to increase your monthly allowance therefore, wherever you find yourselves conduct yourself well, be good ambassador of your family, the scheme and the nation.

    “We received a letter from the presidency, that is, ministry of youth and sport, copied the ministry of finance that shows that the corps allowance will be reviewed upward, it is in the pipeline.”

    He urged the corps members to reciprocate the government gesture by taking advantage of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) of the NYSC so that they can assist government by creating jobs.

    Kazaure said the corps members should consider themselves privileged to serve the nation, urging them to patriotic and uphold the mandate of the scheme.

    Read Also: NYSC to corps members: be self-reliant

    He said: “Immediately after your orientation, you will be posted out, you should respect the tradition of your community.

    “Avoid indecent dressing and be security conscious, and avoid night party, night party is allowed in your lodge but aside your lodge this is not allowed.”

    Kazaure therefore gave his mobile numbers to enable the corps members reach him for any complain and information.

    The FCT state Coordinator, Mr Ballama Birniwa, said the DG has banned the use of firewood in the camp kitchen, adding that gas would be provided for cooking in the camp.

  • NYSC commences 2018 Batch B orientation camp

    The National Youth Service Corps is to conduct the 2018 Batch B Stream I Orientation course from Tuesday, 24th July to Monday 13th August, 2018.

    The Director-General of the Scheme, Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure made this known Wednesday at a pre-orientation meeting of the NYSC Management with State Coordinators and Camp Commandants in Abuja.

    According to a statement made by Kazaure, the details regarding the conduct of the stream II edition of the Orientation Course will be released in due course.

    Read Also:NYSC counsels foreign graduates as 2018 batch B registration commences

    He urged the Coordinators to communicate policy issues discussed at the meeting to camp officials for effective conduct of the programme.

    He also expressed delight at the level of success recorded during the 2018 Batch ‘A’ Orientation Course.

    “I was impressed with what I saw in some states, especially with regards to the implementation of the skills acquisition programme, feeding of Corps Members, camp sanitation as well as the quality of accommodation.

    ‘‘Notwithstanding the successes recorded, the states faced some challenges which I expect this gathering to discuss with a view to charting ways forward.”

    “It is necessary that you take note of the current issues and policies of the Scheme so as to align your operations with the Management’s areas of focus, and to ensure uniformity of programme implementation in orientation camps nationwide.”

    The Director-General said State Coordinators, who make giant strides towards the successful execution of the Orientation course, would be rewarded while those found to be operating at variance with the Scheme’s core values would be sanctioned.

    Kazaure directed the Coordinators to pay adequate attention to issues of security and general welfare of Corps Members.

    He said that they must ensure strict compliance with the Management’s directives on healthcare, feeding, accommodation and Camp sanitation, amongst others.

    He also adjured them to step up efforts at sensitizing state Governments and other stakeholders on their statutory responsibilities to NYSC, especially in the provision and upgrading of camp facilities.