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NYSC D-G Set To Sanction Recalcitrant Corps Members
The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, yesterday, said he would not hesitate to sanction recalcitrant corps members according to the NYSC bye laws.
Ibrahim spoke at the swearing-in of the 2021 Batch ‘B’ set of corps members at the FCT Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Abuja.
Represented by NYSC Coordinator in the FCT, Mr Suleiman Abdul, the DG charged corps members to always be guided by the oath of allegiance they had taken.
“You must obey the law at all times; you must always be exemplary,” he declared.
The scheme was recently on the spotlight over the arrest of corps members by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
They were said to be involved in drug trafficking.
The director-general urged corps members to be of good conduct throughout the service year and comply with the NYSC rules and regulations.
“It is our ardent hope that you will keep up your good conduct throughout the exercise. You must comply strictly with all camp rules and regulations, and be obedient to your course officials.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we shall apply appropriate sanctions on recalcitrant corps members in line with the provisions of the NYSC Bye-Laws.
“The oath of allegiance, which you have just taken today, is solemn. I implore you to always find time to meditate over its spirit and letters and be guided by the same throughout the service year and beyond”, he said.
Ibrahim assured corps members of the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing unemployment through the introduction of policies and programmes.
The director-general, however, urged corps members to take advantage of the skills training opportunities offered by the scheme to prepare to be self-reliant and be employers of labour.
“Happily, the Federal Government and other stakeholders are leaving no stone unturned in the efforts to address this challenge as clearly demonstrated through various policies and programmes.
“As a scheme that is responsive to prevailing national needs, the NYSC is also assiduous in the implementation of its Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.
“It is meant to prepare corps members for self-employment and wealth creation through vocational and entrepreneurship training.
“It will also link the corps members with financial institutions and other funding sources for business start-up funds.
“The SAED training will commence in camp in the coming days; I urge you to avail yourselves of this opportunity and acquire useful skills to avoid joining the ranks of unemployed graduates scouting for unavailable white-collar jobs,” he said.
The NYSC boss assured the corps members of adequate implementation of Covid-19 prevention measures in all camps nationwide.
According to Ibrahim, these measures have been put in place in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19.
The measures include consistent testing of prospective corps members, course officials and visitors for the virus before admission to camp.
“We are also enforcing physical distancing and wearing of face masks, while handwashing points are located at strategic places.
“I, therefore, call on all members of the camp community to ensure strict compliance with all the prevention protocols throughout the orientation period.
“I also encourage you to present yourselves for the Covid-19 vaccination whenever it is made available in or out of the orientation camp.
“I particularly appreciate the NCDC for the continuous provision of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits and sensitisation materials for usage in all orientation camps since the post-lockdown resumption of orientation course in November, 2020,” he said.
In an interview, the NYSC FCT coordinator said that the camp received adequate supply of RDT kits for testing of Prospective Corps Members (PCMs), camp officials, and others before entry into the camp.
Abdul, however, noted that a marketer, who sells goods at the camp, tested positive for the virus and was immediately handed over to the NCDC for medical assistance.
“The Covid-19 RDT kits given to the NYSC FCT orientation camp were enough to undertake the testing of everyone that entered the camp during the camp registration process.
“An individual, who sells goods in the camp, tested positive for the virus during the process and was handed over to the NCDC for further medical attention. That is the only recorded case we had,” he said.
The coordinator assured corps members that the scheme would continue to do its best to ensure that the camps remained safe for all.
“There are handwashing taps located around the camp to encourage corps members to regularly wash their hands; the use of face mask is also enforced.
“Some corps members have been selected to help enforce the Covid-19 measures. If you check around the camp, you will see them wearing reflective jackets; they are the vanguards of this task,” he said.
About 1,309 PCMs deployed to undergo the mandatory one-year national youth service in the FCT took the oath of allegiance.
The PCMs were sworn in by the acting Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, who was represented by Justice Suleiman Balgore.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.