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Certificate Racketeering Saga: NYSC’s ICT System Is Foolproof -Official
The Director of Press and Public Relations, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr Eddy Megwa, says the scheme’s integrated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) system is foolproof.
Megwa was reacting to the report of an investigation into certificate racketeering titled “How Daily Nigerian Reporter Bagged Cotonou Varsity Degree in six Weeks, participated in NYSC Scheme.”
According to the report, there is a booming certificate racketeering syndicate in Benin Republic and Togo
which specialises in selling university degrees to willing buyers from Nigeria.
The report also detailed how to access the NYSC platform and register for mobilisation for the one-year national service.
Responding, Megwa said that the investigator, who had served in 2018, could only register on the NYSC platform
using a phone number and email that had not been used before on the platform.
He added that “the system put in place by the scheme, though still evolving, is foolproof.
“Our system is foolproof, unless you want to go through criminal way, and of course, once you are caught, you go for it.
“The investigator inputted the email and the phone number he used in serving before and the system flagged it, which means there is a check in place.
“He owned up in his report that NYSC is foolproof and that he (the investigator) had to go beyond the ordinary to get through the point he went through.
“So, as it is, our system is evolving and we are putting things in place; we are up and doing and doing our best.
“The young man (investigator) confessed that in all the procedures he went through until the last beat, NYSC was the most difficult and we are making it even more difficult for any infiltrator to get into our system.”
Megwa added that ICT is evolving the world over, and organisations have continued to improve on the established ICT base to ensure that hackers do not get in.
On the issue of fake certificate being presented for mobilisation, he said “it is not the responsibility of the scheme to verify certificates, as it is not supposed to doubt the integrity of an institution’s senate.”
He, however, said that for foreign graduates, the scheme carries out tests for them before they are allowed to serve.
He added that “we have been carrying out checks on foreign universities before now, even with our local universities; we have been doing that.
“NYSC does not doubt the integrity of the senate of an institution; our business is to certify students worthy in character and in learning and once a list is given to us,
we mobilise.”
He cited an instance of how a former director-general of the scheme interacted with a youth corps member and discovered that the member had not attended any higher institution.
Megwa said that the system had been sanitised and officers in affected institutions that were doing the racketeering were expelled from the schools.
He, however, said that the scheme subjects prospective youth corps members from foreign universities to test “because of the things happening, as some graduates cannot write a single sentence in English.”
In a related development, to strengthen online registration process for the scheme, beginning from 2024, eligible prospective youth corps members will be required to register for mobilisation with the National Identification Numbers (NIN).
The decision was part of deliberations during collaborative meeting by the NYSC and the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC).
During the meeting, the Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Yu’shau Ahmed, said that the collaboration would strengthen the online registration process.
Also, the Director-General of NIMC, Mrs Abisoye Coker-Odusote, pledged the commission’s readiness to collaborate with the scheme.
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.