Fake corps members have been prosecuted, jailed – NYSC

The National Youth Service Corps has said that some of the arrested fake corps members during the Batch B Orientation Exercise have been prosecuted in court and jailed.

The NYSC Director-General, Brig Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, stated this at the Kubwa Orientation Camp in the Federal Capital Territory, according to a release late on Monday, adding that the scheme’s clampdown on fake graduates had brought sanity into the process.

It will be recalled that the NYSC in September noted that it handed over 85 fake corps members to the police for trial after they were arrested in camps nationwide with fake documents.

The DG stated on Monday that some of the corps members had been prosecuted and jailed in the past week.

He said, “In the Batch B streams 1 and 2, we made several arrests and I am happy to inform Nigerians that some have been prosecuted and jailed last week.

“During the 2019 Batch C mobilisation, over 20,000 foreign-trained Nigerians uploaded online for mobilisation but through our measures of physical verification, only 3,420 showed up. This is to tell you that we are good, because I warned them earlier that if they are not qualified, they should not show up.

“We have not arrested any fake corps member in camps in this current orientation exercise going on.”

While commending the contribution of corps members to the Kogi and Bayelsa states’ elections, the DG said the scheme had enhanced the electoral process in the country.

On the payment of minimum wage to corps members, Ibrahim insisted that the Federal Government had approved the minimum wage for the corps members and that they should wait for payment.

(Punch)

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Corper buried in A’Ibom weeks to passing out

The remains of Ngozi Onyekwere, 26, a National Youth Service Corps member at the Akwa Ibom State Government House, Uyo, have been buried at her home town in Nnarambia, Ahiara, in the Ahiazu Local Government Area of Imo State.

Onyekwere, an Accounting graduate from the University of Port Harcourt, who was to pass out from the national scheme in August 2016, died in a road accident at Uyo on June 23, 2016.

The victim was returning from her workplace at the government house when the crash occurred.

During a requiem mass at Saint Brigid’s Catholic Church, Nnarambia, Rev. Father Boniface Nwaigwe urged the congregation to always help humanity, especially those in need.

Nwaigwe, a professor and lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, University of Port Harcourt, regretted that people who witnessed the accident did not assist the victim by taking her to a hospital.

The cleric said rather than take the victim to the hospital, those who witnessed the accident were busy snapping the pictures of the accident and posting them on social media.

He said, “We are gradually losing our humanity. It is also very pathetic and difficult to get somebody who can help in any difficult situation.

“Christianity has not yet come to Nigeria. Our attitude does not show we are Christians. Any religion that is not self-critical is nonsense. I still need to see the fruit of Christianity in our people.”

In his speech, the representative of the Director General of the NYSC, Rev. Akinolu Ajayi, described the death of the corps member as shocking and painful to the NYSC.

He said, “It is very painful that death struck when Onyekwere was serving her nation, just two months to her passing out of the scheme.”

The Coordinator of the NYSC in Akwa Ibom, Mrs. Ngozi Chukwuka, said the deceased was a diligent corps member, adding that her posting to the government house was based on merit.

She said, “When the Akwa Ibom State Government House asked for three corps members who studied Accounting, Ngozi was among the three that scaled through out of the 38 graduates interviewed.”

The coordinator eulogised Onyekwere for her exemplary conduct in service and urged other corps members to emulate her.

She said “It is not the NYSC that caused her death. Her death during the NYSC programme was one of the vicissitudes of life. It is pertinent at this juncture to disclose that the NYSC bore all the expenses incurred for the burial of the deceased. It is our prayer that God grants her soul eternal repose.”

The NYSC Coordinator, Imo State, Mr. Isaac Fasanu, consoled the victim’s family and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

(Punch)

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CBN sets aside N2.5bn for Corp members with entrepreneurial skills

The Central Bank of Nigeria said it had set aside a total sum of N2.5bn for members of the National Youth Service Corps with good business ideas.

The N2.5bn which was set aside out of the N220bn Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development fund would be disbursed to the youth corp members under the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme.

The CBN is targeting to create a total of one million jobs through the YEDP which is the initiative of the apex bank launched on March 15 this year by the CBN Governor,Mr Godwin Emefiele.

The purpose of the program is to address the challenges of youth unemployment in the country.

Under the program, the apex bank in collaboration with Heritage Bank Plc would develop the entrepreneurial capacity of the youths as well as provide them with fund of a maximum of N3m each to operate a business

The activities  to be covered under the programme are startups and expansion projects in agricultural value chain (fish farming, poultry and snail farming), cottage industry, mining and solid minerals.

Others are tourism, arts and crafts, information and communications technology and any other activity that may be determined by the CBN.

Speaking during the event at the NYSC camp in Abuja, Emefiele said the initiative would enable the CBN conserve the huge foreign exchange which had been spent in importing food items.

He said each Corp member is entitled to N3m adding that their discharge certificate as well their degree certificate would be used as collateral to secure the loan.

He said, “It is not a grant and it is a loan that must be paid. We are determined to give support to the youth and I truly must thank the National Youth Service Corps who has helped us to put together the first  set of NYSC, so that we can nurture them as young entrepreneurs, not as people who go into the world looking for jobs.

“We want to nurture them as people who are developing the entrepreneurial spirit, entrepreneurial skills, not only for their good but also for the good of  the country.

He expressed optimism that the Corp member would not default in repaying the loan owing to the fact that they would not want to lose their certificate for a loan of N3m.

He added, “We do not anticipate that any of them fails. However,  we have as collateral their NYSC certificate as well as their degree certificate. We know that our youths know the importance of their degree certificates as well as  their NYSC certificate as collateral for this loan.

“I don’t think that somebody who has got a degree certificate or HND certificate to  attain a gainful employment or a gainful life will abandon his certificate or his NYSC discharge certificate just because he wants to take a loan and not pay.”

The Director General, NYSC, Brigadier-General Sule Kazaure, commended the CBN for initiating the program for corps members.

He said a total of 1,500 corps members are participating in the entrepreneurship training program across the country.

He said 180 participants in the scheme are in Abuja; Plateau, 130; Katsina State, 208; Enugu State,160; Akwa Ibom 227; Osun State, 271; and Lagos State, 179.

(Punch)

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FG releases N13bn to NYSC

The Federal Government has released about N13bn to the National Youth Service Corps to assist the agency to pay the outstanding allowances of corps members.

With this development, the NYSC can now proceed with the mobilisation of prospective corps members in the country.

Our correspondent learnt that corps members and the NYSC workers  had been jubilating since the news got to them.

The spokesperson for the NYSC, Mrs. Abosede Aderibigbe, confirmed the release of the N13bn in an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday in Abuja.

She was reacting to enquiries about the amount following an earlier statement in which the NYSC was commending the Federal Government for “its prompt intervention, approval and release of funds to accommodate the 2016 Batch ‘A’(Stream II) Orientation course.”

She said, “The management of the NYSC also wishes to use this medium to inform and assure prospective corps members, parents, guardians and the general public that the 2016 Batch ‘A’ stream II orientation course holds as scheduled from Saturday, May 21 to Monday, June 6, 2016.”

According to her, the swearing-in ceremony of the 2016 Batch ‘A’ Stream II corps members will hold on Monday, May 23, 2016.

“Prospective corps members are by this notice directed to print their call up letters online. We wish the 2016 Batch ‘A’(Stream II) corps members successful orientation course and service year,” Aderibigbe stated.

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NYSC warns corp members against unauthorised trips, illicit drugs

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Suleman Kazaure, has warned corps members against unauthorised trips and taking of illicit drugs at the course of service.

This is as he tasked the Corp members to join the crusade against corruption.

The DG, gave the warning while addressing the 2016 Batch 'A' Corps members at the Orientation Camps in Benue and Nasarawa states.

Kazaure, who assured the scheme, would always priority security and welfare of corps members advised them to be agents of change.

While describing corruption as a monster, which had caused a lot of setbacks to the growth and development of the country he said; "We need to tackle corruption at all cost. So, let us work together to achieve that."

He advised them to avail themselves of the opportunity for self-employment provided through the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.

"I don't want you to go in search of jobs; instead, you should create jobs for others. If you can secure white collar job, fine, but don't spend too much time searching for it when you have the chance to be your own boss," he added.

Kazaure told them that the regimented nature of camp life was not intended to impose hardship, but to inculcate discipline in them and prepare them for the challenges of the service period and leadership.

He urged the Corp members to add values to their host communities, especially through Community Development Service.

"I urge you to integrate well with your host communities; appreciate and respect their cultures. Also, know that indecent dressing is not allowed both in and out of camp," he added.

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Two years after, NYSC orientation exercise resumes in Gombe

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation exercise has resumed in Gombe state after two years of suspension as a result of security challenges occasioned by the threat of insurgents.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) however reports that the 1,706 batch ‘A’ Corps members deployed to the state are to undergo the exercise in a temporary orientation camp in Amada, Akko Local Government Area, pending the clearing of the permanent camp in Malamsidi town of Kwami Local Government Area.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony on Friday, Gombe State Coordinator of NYSC, Malam Ahmed Ikada commended Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo for his timely intervention that saw the resumption of orientation camp in the state.

He then appealed to the governor to assist the corps members with stipends to add to their monthly allowance.

In his remarks, Alhaji Mahmud Baba, acting Head of Service and chairman, NYSC Governing Board, urged the corps members to put in to practice, the skills acquired during their training.

Declaring the orientation camp open, Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo assured the corps members that the government was committed to ensuring their security.

He commended the host community for providing vigilantes that would collaborate with security personnel to ensure security within and outside the camp.

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NYSC to deploy doctors, pharmacists, others to IDPs camps —DG

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

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

Kazaure said that the deployment of NYSC to 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 members 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.

(NAN)

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NYSC: 2016 batch A updated time-table

NYSC Mobilization Time Table For 2016 Batch A

1. 2015 Batch B Post Mobilisation Workshop 19th - 21st November 2015

2. 2016 Batch A pre-mobilization workshop. 5th - 9th January 2016

3 Briefing of corps Members/ final year students. 12th - 16th January 2016

4 Display of list of all approved programmes for institutions on NYSC portal for cross checking 11th - 15th January 2016

5 Collation of Prospective Corps Members' Data by Corps Producing Institutions CPIs 11st - 18th January 2016

6 Submission/Uploading of Senate/Academic Board Approved Result for Full/Part-Time Graduates and Revalidation Lists by CPIs 18th - 30th January 2016

7 Uploading of Corrected Lists by Corps Producing Institutions 18th - 30th January 2016

8 On-line Registration by Foreign and locally Trained Nigerian Graduates 8th - 28th February 2016

9 Entertainment of complaints from Prospective Corps Members by the state Deployment and Relocation officers and NYSC Help Lines/Desks 8th - 27th February, 2016

10 Forwarding of Complaints to Mobilisation Dept by State Deployment and Relocation officers 8th - 27th February, 2016

11 Online Delivery of Print-Outs to Corps Producing Institutions 1st - 3rd March, 2016

12 Deployment and Printing of Call-up Letters by ICT Department 18th - 26th April, 2016

13 Notification/On-line Printing of Call-up Letters 20th - 27th April, 2016

14 2016 Batch A Orientation Course (Stream I) 27th April - 13th May, 2016

15 2016 Batch A Orientation Course (Stream II) 21st May - 6th June, 2016

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Verify certificates, fake NYSC certificates in circulation - Director tells employers

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.

(NAN)

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NYSC DG urges corps members to access N2bn BOI loan

The director general of National Youth Service Corps(NYSC), Brig- General Johnson Olawumi has urged corps members to avail themselves of opportunity to access loan from the N2bn set aside by the Bank of Industry (BOI) for disbursement to interested Corps members under the BOI-NYSC Graduate Entrepreneurship Empowerment Fund.

Speaking during his visit to various orientation camp in the country, the DG also urged corps members to also access as well as the N200m earmarked by the Heritage Bank for similar purpose.
He further encouraged them to take advantage of the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship training to equip them for self-reliance.

DG also restated the need for Corps members to be in the vanguard for the actualization of the change agenda of the present administration, urging them to help in sensitizing other Nigerians on value re-orientation.

The DG who hailed Nigerian youths as some of the best in the world, cautioned them against making uncomplementary remarks about the country, while also urging the Corps members to remain patriotic at all times.

Olawumi reaffirmed the commitment of the Scheme to the safety of Corps members, and urged them to play roles in their own security by, among other things, avoiding unnecessary journeys.
He further encouraged them to integrate with their host communities as well as appreciate and respect their cultures and religions.

The DG urged corps members to remember that there was no shortcut to success; adding that they must imbibe the virtues of hard work, honesty and respect for their country.

(Leadership.ng)

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NYSC 2014 Batch C POP

Finally, i am goog2go.

Congratulations to all the 2014 batch "C" corps members that have successfully completed the one-year mandatory National Service

I am glad to have been part of the NYSC scheme.

My National Service year in pictures: 

Adekunle at Adamawa orientation camp, Benue State

Adekunle with female students, Al-Hikmah school, Ife Olukotun, Kogi State.

Adekunle

Adekunle with male students, Al-Hikmah school, Ife Olukotun, Kogi State.

My CV, just in case....

CV Page one: Adekunle Fayemi

CV Page two: Adekunle Fayemi

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NYSC to attach corps members’ pictures to certificates

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) said on Tuesday it would begin to issue certificates of national service with the passport photographs of corps members as a feature from October 15.

The Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, said this in Abuja at the unveiling of the newly improved certificate of national service.

Olawumi, who was represented by Alhaji Aliu Daura, NYSC’s Director of Certification, said that the new certificate was produced to end all forms of fraud perpetuated by users of the old certificate.

“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 corps members register online before proceeding to the orientation camps.

“This resulted in the enhancement of issuance of NYSC certificates namely: Certificate of National Service, Certificate of Exemptions, and Letters of Exclusion.

“With effect from Batch ‘C’ 2014, all certificates of national service bear passport photographs of the corps member 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 Thursday, 15 October 2015, will have their certificates embossed with their photograph.

“Employers are encouraged to forward any certificate purportedly issued by the scheme for verification of its authenticity or otherwise.

“Effort is being made by the scheme to also make the verification of all NYSC certificates to
be automated for easy access by the general public.“

Olawumi said that asides the passport photograph the newly improved certificate also contained a back code with security numbers.

He also said that the still featured the information in the old certificates except for the security features and passport photograph.

He said that it was only the NYSC that could locate the code and security numbers on the certificate adding that the measure was adopted to further enhance the security of the certificate.

The director general said that previous certificates issued by the scheme was still valid and could be used by the owners.

Earlier, Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, the Director of Press, NYSC, said since the inception of the scheme 42 years ago, it had experienced cases of impersonation of the certificate.

Aderibigbe said that people often used certificates issued to other individuals to apply for jobs.

According to her, the new certificate, which features the photograph of corps members, will put an end to such cases as nobody would be able to use an NYSC certificate issued another to perpetrate fraud.

The director charged members of the public especially employers to ensure that they verified the NYSC certificates of prospective employees.

She said that this was earlier done by writing to the scheme, adding that employers could now verify the certificates online.

“You do not have to come to the headquarters just go online and verify the authenticity of the certificate. This will ensure that the people you are recruiting are the real owners of the document.

“Those who qualify for the certificate of national service are those who participated in the youth service right from the orientation till passing out.

“Those who qualify for the certificate of exemption are graduates who are above 30 years at the time of graduation or recipients of the National Presidential Honours Award.

“Persons who have joined the Armed Forces, Police, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Security (DSS) are also issued certificates of exemption.

“Letters of exclusion are issued to part-time and distance learning students and those who have not been able to pass through the normal university or polytechnic system,” Aderibigbe said.

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‘Missing’ corper found

The National Youth Service Corps has said it would begin to sanction corps members who abscond from the location of their national service.

The NYSC issued the threat in reaction to the case of a corps member, Akeem Afolabi Adekunle, deployed to Akwa Ibom State and posted to Itam Secondary School in Itu Local Government Area.

Adekunle had been declared ‘missing’ some months ago but was found with his family members in Lagos after allegedly absconding from his place of primary assignment.

The Punch had exclusively reported that a corps member on national assignment in Akwa Ibom State was ‘missing.’

A statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations of NYSC, Mrs. Bose Aderibigbe, which was obtained by PUNCH, said Adekunle abandoned his place of primary assignment three months ago and had been with his family members since then, without reporting to the authorities.

According to her, the team set up by the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, visited the family of the missing corps member to unravel the circumstances leading to his disappearance only to discover that he was with his family members.

(Punch)

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Hajj stampede: NYSC contacts 100 corps members’ families

The National Youth Service Corps has contacted the families of 100 corps members, who participated in this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia, where about 99 Nigerians have been confirmed dead in a stampede in Mina.

The decision followed apprehension by family members since the stampede took place.

The NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Bose Aderibigbe, who spoke with PUNCH in an interview, said, “We have started contacting their next-of-kin to let us know what is happening. So far, they have not told us anyone was missing.

“About 100 corps members got permission from us to go (for Hajj) and we have contacted their next-of-kin to find out whether they are in link with them. We have contacted our various states to contact their next-of-kin on the phone.

“The management of NYSC has compiled a list of those who applied and sent to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria; until the reply comes that we can know. Also, their next-of-kin have been contacted. No one has gotten back to us that their wards were involved.”

Our correspondent reports that NAHCON had on Thursday confirmed the death of 99 Nigerian pilgrims, 42 injured and 214 others missing in the September 24 stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

The confirmation came as a road traffic expert, Alhaji Babatunde Adewumi, suggested that NAHCON should engage the services of trained and qualified traffic controllers to help in the management of crowd in the subsequent Hajj exercise.

The agency’s Commissioner (Planning, Research, Statistic Information and Library Service), Dr. Saleh Okenwa, gave the casualty figure in an interview with journalists in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

According to him, the total number of Nigerians affected in the incident was 355 as of the time of filling this report.

Okenwa, however, insisted that those missing could not be declared dead since identification of those affected was still being collated by the Saudi Arabia health authorities in conjunction with Nigerian and other health officials.

He also gave the breakdown of the victims as 73 deaths from the state pilgrim welfare boards, agencies and commissions, while the remaining 26 were from the tour operators.

“Those injured were 42, 41 from the state pilgrims and one from tour operators. The number of those missing from the states was 96 males, 94 females and four males who were officials, totaling 194, while 10 males and 10 females were missing from the tour operators.

“Of those injured, only seven remain in the hospitals on admission and receiving treatments and others were discharged,” Okenwa said.

When prodded on the fate of the people missing and if there were hope that they could be found alive, he said, “In the early days, people expressed hope but the hope is waning. We cannot declared those missing as dead since there is no evidence to state that.”

(Punch)

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NYSC bars concessional postings

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme would no longer entertain request from people seeking for concessional postings for their wards, relatives and friends mobilised for the NYSC mandatory one-year service.

To this end, the scheme has introduced what it described as ‘self deployment’ mechanism to enable prospective corps members choose a state, where they wished to serve their fatherland.

Olawumi, made the disclosure during an interview at the opening ceremony of a training organised by the NYSC and the Housing Developers Cooperative Society for corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camp Kubwa, Abuja.

He explained that their online platform was designed in such a way that corps members that have been enjoying concessional posting would not be denied the privileges, urging members of the public to stop disturbing the scheme with their requests, as it would not be granted.

“The NYSC is barring concessional posting, we have to take that decision, because in the past, we allowed concessional posting for prospective corps members, who have medical challenge, or married women or pregnant women, but as it stands now, our online registration platform has been designed in such away to address the problem of those prospective corps members who have health challenges or married women.

“So, all they need to do is that, in the process of doing their registration, there are information these categories of people need to supply and upload. Our portal has been designed in such a way that it will automatically post them to where they filled.

“I want to say that in the past few weeks we have been receiving requests from various quarters; ministries, departments, agencies, private institutions and individuals seeking for concessional posting. I want to say that they are just wasting their time,” he categorically asserted.

The NYSC boss maintained that the scheme and the Housing Developers’ Cooperative Society had teamed up to train corps members to bridge shortage of skilled manpower in housing sector.

According to him, “the inauguration of 200 youth corps members for training in special areas of labour need in the housing development sector reaffirms our pledge to give useful skills to every willing graduate partaking in the national service.”

(The Guardian)

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NYSC secures release of 2 corps members held for armed robbery in Niger

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Friday said it had secured the release of two out of three corps members detained by police in Niger over alleged armed robbery.

The management of the corps said in a statement in Abuja that its findings revealed the accusation levelled against the trio was based only on circumstantial evidence.

It explained that the attention of the management was drawn to newspaper publications reporting that three corps members were held by police in Niger over alleged armed robbery.

It said that the publications had reported that the corps members were in police custody following allegations of robbing a shop owner in Suleja.

According to the statement, two of the accused corps members have since been released while the process of securing the release of the third is on-going.

It said that the office of the Secretary to the Government and the Ministry of Youth Development had lent its support to the matter.

It assured the public, particularly parents and guardians, that no corps member would be allowed to suffer unduly especially over cases of mistaken identity during the service year.

“We also wish to inform the public that the provisions of the NYSC Bye-Laws are very clear on the involvement of Corps members in criminal acts, though very unlikely, as their participation in the Scheme does not confer immunity from prosecution.

“We have, therefore, continued to sensitise members of the service corps on the need to be law-abiding and to shun acts capable of soiling the image of the Scheme and their families.

“Management further wishes to allay the fears of all Corps members serving in Suleja regarding their safety.

“We have already intensified liaison with the Army, Police and other security agencies in the area as well as the Suleja Emirate Council who have all renewed their commitment to the protection of all Corps members in the area,’’ the statement read in part.

Management therefore enjoined all corps members serving in Suleja to go about their duties without fear of molestation.

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Armed robbers raid NYSC ‘corpers’ lodge, third time in 5 months

Armed robbers at the weekend invaded the residence of members of the National Youth Service Corps serving in Ogun State. The lodge is located behind Development Centre, Presidential Boulevard, Abeokuta from where the thieves made away with their valuables.

The robbery in the lodge, which is the third in the last five months, occurred on Saturday at about 3.00 a.m. when the corps members were asleep. The victims lost money, ten laptops and over twenty-five telephones to the marauders.

A victim said the bandits gained access to the lodge, and woke the corps members at gun point.

Some of the victims who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES under the condition of anonymity, said the gang numbering about four escaped through a foot path after the operations.

According to the victims, on arrival, the gang forced their ways into each flat, moved from one room to another to ransack, while the other two stayed outside to forestall any possible resistance.

“The robbers came around 3.00 a.m. working on the porosity of the lodge, and forcefully found their way into our flats, where at gunpoint made away with money, ten laptops and over twenty-five mobile phones.

“They, however, left behind our certificates and other educational documents earlier stolen alongside other valuables. This is the third time the robbers would be raiding us”, one of the victims narrated.

The corps members said they had reported the first two incidents to the police, yet no action was taken before the latest one. They appealed to security agencies to provide adequate security for them.

“We are begging security authorities in the state and NYSC authority to come to our aid, before the bandits start killing us,” a corps member stated.

They, however, say they are now making their own security arrangements.

Meanwhile, efforts to get the Ogun Police spokesperson,  Muyiwa Adejobi, proved abortive. His phone could not be reached after several attempts.

However, officers at the Ibara police station where reports were made said surveillance will be intensified in the area.

(Premium Times)

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How devil pushed me to impersonate NYSC member – Suspect

A Jos Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday, sentenced a 25-year-old man, Abubakar Mohammed, to one month imprisonment for impersonating as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The Magistrate, Mr Tijanni Zololo, handed down the sentence after Mohammed pleaded guilty to the crime and begged the court for leniency.

Zololo, however, gave the convict an option of N100, 000 fine.

He said the sentence was meant to serve as a deterrent to those who might want to engage in similar acts.

The convict, in his plea, attributed his action to the work of the devil: “I don’t know what came over me; it was the devil that made me do it.

“I wanted to belong, and to be at the same level with my peers. That was why I did it, have mercy on me,’’ he said.

Mohammed, who resides in Mubana Mujaye, Sokoto State, was charged with impersonation and forgery.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Cpl. Samuel Chirkwap, told the court that the accused was arrested and taken to the police station after fake NYSC documents were found on him.

He added that a forged degree certificate of Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto was also found in his possession.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 179 and 111 of the Penal Code.

(NAN)

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Age limit stopped me from NYSC – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday said he would have participated in the National Youth Service Corps, if not for his age which disqualified him.

Obasanjo, who has a degree in Theology from National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) bagging, said; ”Somebody wrote me a letter when he got to know that I have graduated from NOUN, he wanted me to do national youth service, but unfortunately for him there is age limit.”

The former President stated this when he was decorated as grand patron of NOUN Alumni Association at a meeting with the executives of the NOUN Alumni Association, led by Mr Phil Colman, President and Mr Ayeni Olutope, Southwest Vice-President at his Hilltop residence, in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo said in his remarks that the establishment of NOUN has presented a unique opportunity for Nigerians to have access to higher education in the country.

He also said that the academic and professional issues surrounding the accreditation of law course being offered at the NOUN by the National University Commission and the Nigerian Law School would soon be resolved. He added that law graduates of the University would have opportunity to undergo compulsory one year programme at Nigerian Law School.

The Ogun State chairman of NOUNAA, Chief Bode Mustapha, in his remarks urged Nigerians to make use of the NOUN opportunity. He stated that the institution now boasts of a royal father, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona as a law student and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governor of Osun State as student of Theology.

The South West vice president of NOUN, Olutope Ayeni, in his remarks said it was the institution that afforded him the opportunity of university education.

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NYSC Trains 400,000 Corps Members on Skill Acquisition

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Johnson Olawumi‎ said Friday that NYSC has trained over 400, 000 corps members on Skill Acquisition since 2012.

The DG dropped the hint in Abuja while hosting the Commander, Guards Brigade, Brig. Gen. Musa Yusuf in his office, where he stressed that the scheme had been doing a lot as far as skill acquisition was concerned.

According him, "we started that programme since 2012, and since then we have trained over 400,000 Corp members in various skill acquisition programmes, we are talking about twelve skills set, so, sometimes I get surprised when people suggest NYSC should engage in skill acquisition, and we have been doing that and we are still going to do more."

The DG revealed that NYSC was partnering with international bodies, adding that in a couple of weeks from now that a special training would be organised in NYSC camp in Kubwa.

Yusuf stated: "We are partnering with organisations that focuses on property development under the sponsorship of the world Bank, where we want to improve the skills of corps members who might be involved in all sectors of property development that is going to start from any moment from now.

In order to put an end to the problem corps members faced in raising a start-up capital after acquiring skills, the DG noted; "we have been doing a lot to ensure they have access to start-up capital, for example we have NYSC foundation, as we speak the foundation has just approved a loan of N10 million for corps members and based on the business plan,  they  could get between N250,000 and 400,000,

"We have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bank of Industry, though it's yet to take off but we are working on it. About couple of months ago, I also approached Heritage Bank, and it is also setting aside a sum of N250 million under a package where corps members will get some soft loans and the only collateral they will use will be their discharge certificate," Yusuf said.

Earlier, Brig. Gen. Yusuf said Guards Brigade had an elaborate security arrangement in place including regular patrolling of FCT for 24 hours in order to ensure ultimate security of corps members and the FCT in general.

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