House of Reps Minority Leader Demands Investigation Into NYSC Ransom Insertion

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu has called for investigation to unravel the alleged insertion of the advice for payment of ransom into the security tips pamphlets of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by yet-to-be identified individuals.

Rt. Hon. Elumelu in a matter of urgent national importance raised at the floor of the Green Chamber, while recalling the reasons (reconciliation, reconstruction and rebuilding of the nation) behind the establishment of the corps in 1973 by General Yakubu Gowon, after the civil war expressed worry over what he described as indiscriminate security challenges which he noted to have not only bedeviled the country, but has also not spared members of the NYSC as he stated that, there have been series of reported cases where corps members are either adopted and ransoms being demanded for or killed on their way to their various areas of posting.

The House of Reps Minority Leader, who was apparently worried over the negative publicity the killing, abduction and maiming of corps members by hoodlums, bandits, armed robbers and kidnappers is giving the country stated that it has become imperative for government to take quick action to address myriad of security problems that has bedeviled the country.

According to Rt. Hon. Elumelu, the inclusion of section 65(e) in the NYSC Scheme’s pamphlets shows a complete collapse in the architectural system of Nigerian security forces and a major worry for friends and family as to why their children should be allowed to participate in this compulsory process.

The lawmaker who said that he was disturbed that an institutions such as the NYSC could openly insert such a clause in their security tips manual, prayed the House to direct its committee on youth development to investigate the motive behind the inclusion of item 65(e) of the NYSC Security Awareness and Education Handbook and Investigate the security situation around corps members and the circumstances leading to the attacks and killing of corps members in various parts of the country Within four (4) weeks and report back to the house.

Read the unedited Motion below

MOTION BY RT.HON.NDUDI ELUMELU THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MATTER OF URGENT NATIONAL IMPORTANCE

NEED TO INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGED INSERTION OF THE ADVICE FOR PAYMENT OF RANSOM INTO THE NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS PAMPHLETS CONTAINING SECURITY TIPS

Note that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was created on the 22nd of may 1973 by the administration of Gen Yakubu Gowon as an Avenue for the reconciliation, reconstruction and rebuilding of the nation after the civil war.

Further note that this program was setup primarily for Nigerian graduates below the age of 30 who studied in Nigerian tertiary institutions or Nigeria graduates abroad who intend to work in Nigeria with a vision for these graduates to be at the forefront of national developmental efforts as well as being a profitable platform for imparting in our youths the values of nationalism, patriotism, loyalty and accountable leadership.

Aware that the mode of implementation is that participants are posted to states other than their states of origin where they are expected to mix with people from different ethnic groups, social and family backgrounds and learn the culture of the indigenes they are posted to, with the aim of bringing about unity in the country and help the youths appreciate other ethnic groups.

Worried that the indiscriminate security challenges that has bedeviled the country has also not spared members of the NYSC, as there have been series of reported cases where members are either adopted and ransoms being demanded for or killed on their way to their various areas of posting.

Further worried that in the last few days, I have been inundated with call and the media has been awash with reports of an embarrassing provision under sec 65(e) of the NYSC security tips pamphlet, advising Corp members to tell their families to make ransoms available in case they are kidnapped while traveling on some of our major roads for national assignment.

Concerned that the inclusion of the said section shows a complete collapse in the architectural system of our security forces and a major worry for friends and family as to why their children should be allowed to participate in this compulsory process.

Further concerned that, this provision shows lack of concern towards the safety of corps members as against the provisions of sec 19 of the public officers’ protection act which places the welfare and security of Corps members on the Government.

Disturbed that for an institution, such as the NYSC to openly insert such a clause in their security tips manual portrays a complete collapse in the capacity of the government to provide security on our highways and therefore a surrender of government institution to kidnappers and bandits thereby giving Nigerians reasons to worry, hence the need for an urgent investigation.

RESOLVE

1. Direct its committee on youth development to investigate the motive behind the inclusion of item 65(e) of the NYSC Security Awareness and Education Handbook and Investigate the security situation around corps members and the circumstances leading to the attacks and killing of corps members in various parts of the country Within four (4) weeks and report back to the house.