28th April, 2022
Seven Nigerian states said 208 National Youth Service Corps members violated the service rules and have been punished with either service extension or outright repeat of the service year.
The states are Anambra, Enugu, Plateau, Akwa Ibom, Gombe, Nasarawa and Delta state.
Only Niger state, among eight states sampled reported a clean sheet.
All the eight states conducted passing out ceremonies for 2021 Batch ‘A’, Stream two, corps members today.
Alhaji Hassan Kaura, the NYSC Coordinator for Niger issued certificates to 955 corps members at a ceremony at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna.
Kaura commended the corps members for displaying high sense of discipline, maturity, cooperation and dedication throughout the service year.
In other states, scores of corps members did not exhibit such discipline.
In Anambra, 23 Corps members will repeat the service year for running afoul of the principles of the scheme.
State coordinator Mrs Blessing Iruma, said another five of the corps members were slammed with extensions for periods ranging from two weeks upwards.
The state discharged 2,701 corps members, found worthy to be discharged.
Enugu and Nasarawa recorded the highest number of rule breaches. Enugu had 50 and Nasarawa 40.
Enugu extended the service year of the 38 corps members for various offences, while 12 were asked to repeat the year for absconding from service.
Mr Sam Ujogu, Coordinator of the scheme in the state, made this known on Thursday in Enugu during the passing-out ceremony of the 2021 Batch ‘A’, Stream two, corps members.
He said that 12 corps members who absconded would be remobilised to start service afresh whenever they resurfaced.
He, however, described as satisfactory the conduct of the corps members that were given the nod to participate in the passing out parade.
Ujogu said that one corps member, Onuegbu Jennifer Amarachi (EN/21A/1303) who was serving at Enugu North Local Government Secretariat, died on Sept. 5, 2021.
He commended the state government for its goodwill and assistance aimed at improving the scheme.
The corps members started the national service on May 18, 2021.
In Nasarawa the 40 corp members, whose services were extended were punished for absconding from their places of primary assignments.
Mr Abdullahi Jikamshi, the NYSC Coordinator for the state the affected corps members failed to internalise the spirit and discipline of the scheme..
Jikamshi said that a total of 1,853 corps members who served the national meritoriously in the state were presented their certificates of national service.
Plateau state extended the service year of six corps members, for varied periods.
They were punished for absenteeism.
It also remobilised 10 others for absenteeism and absconding during their service year.
The State Coordinator of the NYSC in Plateau, Ms Caroline Embu, announced this on Thursday in Jos at the official passing out ceremony of the 2021 Batch “A” Stream II of the scheme.
Embu said four corps members were honoured with the state honour’s award, the chairman’s award, and the state’s coordinator commendation certificates for their exceptional performance in conduct and character in their places of primary assignment.
Akwa Ibom state asked 20 Corps members to repeat their service for absconding, while 30 others have their year extended for absenteeism.
The latter category will spend between two weeks to four months extra.
The State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Mrs Chinyere Ekwe, said in Uyo on Thursday that 1,626 corps members were sent to the state.
She said one of the corps members died, due to ill-health.
In Gombe state, violations were committed by 18 corps members.
The authorities have extended the service year of 11 for various offences.
Seven others who absconded during the service year, will do a repeat.
At the Passing-Out Parade held at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe on Thursday, the State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Ada Imoni, said the extension was issued after facing a disciplinary committee.
Imoni stated that while the scheme rewards hard work to serve as a morale booster, “it also disciplines erring corps members to serve as a deterrent to others.
“I therefore, call on other serving corps members to adhere to the rules and regulations guiding the operations of the scheme at all times.”
According to her, 683 corps members passed out having completed their mandatory one year service.
Twenty-one corps members were recognised for initiating various people-oriented projects through the CDS in various communities in the state.
Alhaji Musa, the commissioner for youth announced a N50,000 donation to Adama Joshua, the overall best corps member in CDS
Delta state extended the service year of 32 corps members, while four were asked to repeat for violating NYSC bye-laws.
Mr Alao Olusegun, the NYSC Coordinator in Delta revealed this on Thursday at the passing out ceremony of 2021 Batch “A” stream II corps members at Cenotaph in Asaba.
He said that a corps member won the NYSC State Governing Board Chairman’s award as a mark of recognition of his hard work, in uplifting the community where he served.
Five others, he said, got the state coordinators commendation letter.