Tag: NYSC

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has disclosed that the federal government and the ministry are working to redesign the scope of NYSC.

This, according to him, would go a long way in addressing the current realities being faced in the country.

The minister, who stated this during his visit to the Niger state NYSC orientation camp in Paikoro local government area, said that the current scope of NYSC did not put into consideration what happens to Corps members after the service.

He said: “Very soon, we will work with the Governor, the Federal Government, and the Ministry of Youth Development to make sure we redesign the scope of NYSC. We need to change the narrative now that we have someone who listens to us. We need to address the question of after camp, where are we going to? So now, it is time to talk and do.

He urged the youths to think out of the box and prioritize acquiring skills that would help them to be able to cope after NYSC.

“As a youth, this is our time to think, the President has given us the platform, it is now left for us to make use of the platform.

Read Also: FG pledges to improve NYSC camps nationwide

“Youth should take part and change the narrative, as corps members, you should take the skills acquisition programmes training with seriousness to acquire skills to better your lives.”

He assured the corps members of the federal government’s readiness to create opportunities for youth engagement across the nooks and crannies of the country.

The Niger state NYSC coordinator,  Mrs Abdulwahab Olayinka lamented that the camp has several challenges which include inadequate hostel accommodation for corps members and camp officials, fast engulfing erosion and running water around the camp environment, fallen parts of perimeter fence making the camp porous and inadequate toilet and bathroom facilities.

She said that there were 1,912 corps members registered in camps which include those deployed to Niger and those dislodged from FCT.

The federal government has pledged to improve the conditions of the orientation camps operated by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) nationwide.

Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, gave the assurance during an unscheduled visit to the NYSC orientation camp in Yikpata, Kwara State on Tuesday, November 28.

In a statement by the Head of Press and Public Relations, FMYD, Maryam Umar Yusuf, on Wednesday, November 29, in Abuja, Olawande bemoaned the deplorable condition of some NYSC camps nationwide, pledging to engage with all relevant authorities to transform the Kwara State orientation camp and others nationwide.

He apologised to corps members over the deplorable condition of their camps, describing it as an unacceptable situation that must be looked into by all relevant stakeholders

The minister thanked the corps members for their resilience, pledging that the President Bola Tinubu administration would not fail them.

The statement reads: “If I can be a Minister, you all can become whatever you wish to be, and the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue to encourage young people, and putting youth in charge of youth affairs is just one of such encouragements.

Read Also: Bago urges NYSC members to become job creators

“Where do you go from here? How do you live decent lives as a graduate? These are some of the questions the Tinubu administration will answer for the youth. We’ll not fail you.”

The State Coordinator of NYSC in Kwara State, Onifade Olaoluwa expressed his happiness over the minister’s visit, describing it as a morale booster.

He said: “We are happy with the visit of the Hon. Minister of State for Youth Development and equally excited with the prospects of his pledge to rejig the NYSC and improve its operations, especially as it concerns the camp facilities.”

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra state has urged employers of corps members in the state to treat those posted to them as they treat their permanent staff.

The state coordinator of NYSC, Blessing Iruma, gave the advice on Tuesday, November 21, at the closing ceremony of 2023 Batch C Stream 1 corps members in Nnamdi Azikiwe Permanent Orientation camp, Umuawulu/Mbaukwu in Awka South Local Government Area of the state.

She also urged corps employers to provide welfare needs of corps members as well as their security, restating the Scheme’s commitment to rewarding employers who distinguish themselves.

She said: “Remember that when the workplace is conducive, the productivity of the corps members would be superlative.

“Corps employers should be aware that I will continue to present awards to corps employers who are evaluated and judged to have excelled in the provision of welfare needs and security to corps members under their care.

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“NYSC appreciates communities who encourage corps members to embark on community development projects.

“As you are aware, projects executed by Corps Members help in the development of communities as they address pressing felt needs of such communities.

“For records, corps members are always willing to leave legacies where they are serving, so I appeal for such support financially and materially as no Corps Member is authorized to use personal funds to execute community projects.

“I do believe that you would like Corps Members who have impacted positively in your communities to be appreciated with awards, prizes, and even chieftaincy titles.”

In his speech, Governor Soludo reassured corps members that their security and well-being remained paramount to his administration.

Soludo, represented by his deputy, Onyeka Ibezim, urged corps members to give their best to their host communities by discharging their duties effectively, carrying out both group and personal CDS projects, and respecting the cultures and traditions of their host communities.

He said: “To achieve this, the security architecture of the state is top-notch as all the security agencies are collaborating to make the state crime-free.

“I have flagged off several kilometres of road projects in most of the communities in the state. The roads, when completed would enhance easy movement to your places of Primary Assignments in the state.”

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order restraining the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from further denying issuing the NYSC certificate being paraded by Enugu Governor Peter Mbah.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment on Monday, held that evidence before the court showed the Mbah properly participated in the NYSC programme and that he was issued a certificate of completion.

Justice Ekwo held that the NYSC misrepresented facts in its claim that it did not issue the certificate Mbah submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the last governorship election.

The judge faulted the NYSC for not producing before the court, two files containing information about Mbah’s participation in the programme, noting that it (NYSC) handled the case with levity.

He awarded N5 million in damages against the NYSC, and on favour of Mbah.

The judgment was on a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/ 611/2023 filed by Mbah, with the NYSC and Ibrahim Mustapha (Director, Corps Certification, NYSC) listed as first and second defendants.

The plaintiff had claimed that he  participated in the NYSC scheme, completed and was issued a certificate of National service dated 6th  January, 2003, with service No. A808297.

On their part, the defendants  disclaimed the certificate, insisting that the NYSC certificate No. A808297 was not issued by the 1st defendant.

The defendants stated that Mbah was mobilised and called-up for National service in 2001 and posted to Lagos, but that some  months into his service, he applied for deferment to enable him attende the Law School.

They added that after his Law School, he was reabsorbed, but never reported for service as he got appointed Chief of Staff to then Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State.

Justice Ekwo, in holding that the defendant’s provided no evidence to support their claim, said: “Now, the evidence of the defendants that the plaintiff’s certificate with Number A673517 which he did not collect is said to have been issued in 2001 and the certificate was incinerated following a mop-up exercise of outdated, unused, and cancelled certificates of National Service and certificates of exemption, certificates of absconded members covering 1999 to 2004, is contrary to the evidence in this case. 

“From the evidence in this case, the plaintiff completed his service in 2003 upon being reinstated and not in 2001. 

“It is not possible for the 1st defendant (NYSC) to have pre-emptively prepared a certificate dated 2001 for a member of the service whose service was deferred in 2002 and was reinstated to completed same in 2003.

 “Furthermore, there is no evidence of the defendants linking the said certficate with number A673517 to either the file with Ref. No. LA/01/1532 (which was the substantive file opened at the time the plaintiff joined the service) or file with Ref No 1 1832/T (which was a temporary file opened for the Plaintiff at the time he wes reinstated) after his deferment. 

“It is these file that would have been a formidable foundation of the case of the defendants on which certificate it actually issued to the plaintiff. 

“There is no evidence that the defendants also incinerated file with Ref. No. LA/01/1532 or file with Ref. No. LA/01/1532/T, in which case it would have been established that the files do not exist. 

“It is the law that & is he who asserts that must prove. The failure of the defendants to tender either the file with Ref. No. LA/01/1532 or file with Ref. No. LA/01/1532/T or explain their respective whereabouts has dug a crater in the case of the defendants and has questioned their assertion that they did issue Exh. PW2 – A23. This is fatal to their case. 

“On the other hand, the defendants can be deemed to have withheld these two pieces of evidence. The consequence of withholding evidence is well settled in the law. 

“There is no evidence that file with Ref. No. LA/01/1532 or file with Ref. No. LA/01/1532/T are documents which are not in the custody of the defendants and there is no evidence that both files were disposed of during the incineration of 2603. 

“The defendants have failed to proffer any credible evidence on the whereabouts of these files. 

“I find that by non-production of file with Ref. No. LA/01/1532 or fle with Ref. No. 1A/01/1532/T means the contents thereof would have gone against the defendants in this case and I so hold.”

Justice Ekwo wondered why the NYSC that claimed it did not issue the certificate being paraded by Mbah failed to prosecute him for forgery.

the judge said: “A critical finding too is that fact that the defendants who daim not to have issued the plaintiff with Exhibits PW2 = A23 failed to lead evidence of forgery thereof by the plaintiff thereby not effectually challenging the assertion of the plaintiff.

“Upon assessing the case of the defendants, it thus appear to me that they have handled their case with levity  or that the lacked the will-power to challenge the case of plaintiff.

“Upon considering the preponderance of credible evidence in this case, I find that the 1st efendant is the one that issued certificate of National Service No. A808297 dated 6th January, 2003 (Exhibit PW2-A23) to the plaintiff.

They (the defendants) had ample opportunity to give this court credible evidence to find otherwise, but failed.”

The judge proceeded to grant all the reliefs sought by the plaintiff and awarded N5million in damages against the defendants.

Read Also: Court fines NYSC N5m for tagging Gov. Mbah’s certificate as fake

Some of the reliefs granted include a declaration that the plaintiff participated in the National Youth Service Corps scheme for one calendar year vide a call-up fetter number FRN/2001/800351; Lagos code LA/01/1532 and upon completion was issued certificate of National Service No. A808297.  

*A declaration that “the defendants conspired by fraudulent design, suppressed and misrepresented facts in supposition that the plaintiff’s certificate of National Service with Certificate Number A808297 was not issued by the D

defendants, a fact they knew or ought to know as untrue, incorrect which act constitutes the tort of conspiracy. 

*An order that the plaintiff’s certificate of National Service No. A808297 is authentic and was validly issued by the 1st defendant. 

*An order of perpetual injunction is hereby made restraining the defendants either jointly/severally, their officers, servants in whatsoever manner and howsoever called from disclaiming/resiling/repudiating the certificate of National Service No. A808297 issued to the plaintiff, Barrister Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.