Members of Muslim Youths in Da’wah on Tuesday had a peaceful protest at the headquarters of the National Youth Service Corps in Abuja against the ban on the use of hijab by female Muslim corps members, especially during orientation camps.



However the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General, Johnson Olawumi, insisted on the ban, saying it was “for security reasons” and will not be lifted. 

The national coordinator of LMYiD, Luqman Hassan; and the Deputy Coordinator, Kamarudeen Adefila, had told the NYSC DG that a major protest by Muslims was averted because of the ban on hijab in most orientation camps.

Hassan told the DG:

“We are here to discuss with you about the incident that happened recently in various camps across the country. We have a guiding principle which is based on the Holy Q’uran. We are all Nigerians and the principle which guides us is the constitution and the African Charter on Human rights.

“Members of the NYSC are Nigerians who have contributed to the development of this country; female corps members deserve protection by the NYSC. We don’t believe that a female corps member putting on hijab has done any wrong against the Act establishing the NYSC. So they deserve the respect of the NYSC. We have travelled far and wide and visited different camps. Why are the rights of female corps members being infringed upon. We are here to register our displeasure.”

“Many Muslim organisations wanted to protest, but we said wait a while. In fact, we have to intervene to avoid the situation and if Muslims march on the streets, it will attract a lot of negative comments, but people won’t know why we are protesting,” Adefila had added.

Olawumi said:

“Under my leadership, the NYSC will accord respect to every corps member, irrespective of tribe and religion. The incident in Benue State was caused by the use of long hijab. The security situation in the country is tough. There is the danger of somebody using hijab for other reasons.

“Why are you so particular on your alleged infraction on the rights of youths without mentioning any one of such on Christian youths? Produce your evidence, write to us and I can assure you that we will act fast. When the incident in Benue State was reported to us, I swung into action and ensured that the camp commandant was decamped immediately. We are not magicians; if you have any evidence, write to us and we will not hesitate to act.”

The NYSC Legal Adviser, Ahmed Tijani Ibrahim, said the incident in Benue State was still being  investigated.

He said,:

"I’m a Muslim and in our camps, I know that we have treated everybody equally. You mentioned the fact that you would have proceeded to protest. Very minor issues could trigger off mass protest.

“We will see the way forward to this complaint. I can assure you that the issue will not be swept under the carpet. The NYSC is very sensitive to the issue of religion and immediately we heard of it, we swung into action and we are on it because issues of religion are very sensitive.”

Punch 

A youth Corps member, Temi Omolabake, died on Monday, October 26, in a ghastly motor accident. Omolabake met death in a motor accident in Zamfara state on her way back to Sokoto from Sango Ota, Ogun state. She was a 2015 batch A corps member serving in Sokoto state. A friend of hers who was a 2014 batch C corps member, Adeniyi Sukurat Abidemi, paid tribute to her.
                             

“I could remember the first day I met you at a person after hearing so much about you on phone. You were so pretty and young, I fell in love with your smile immediately. You were a loving girl, your siblings’ best friend, your parents’ favourite and your fiance’s little bae. I saw you last on October 7, 2015 when the traffic light stopped my bike and I heard that your tiny voice saying “Chicken, how far”. You traveled the next day to Ogun State and until now I still wish you didn’t travel.

I loved you so much but you didn’t even allow me to show the love well…. You were an ambitious presenter who had a lot of plans.. Now who would continue your sport program you started at Savannah TV, you gave us so much stress in thinking about a name for that program before we all decided on one. Everyone always gets to like you at first sight…. Trust me, you can’t meet her and not fall in love.

Rest in peace Lamina Temitope Balqis Omolabake…. My dearest talkative.”

Just recently, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Ibeku high school in Umuahia North, Abia state, were reportedly attacked by indigenes and students of the community.

Meanwhile, Taraba state had handed out punishment to 200 Batch ‘C’ 2015 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to the state.

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Ibeku high school in Umuahia North, Abia state, were reportedly attacked by indigenes and students of the community.
                                     

The indigenes who struck the school Corpers’ Lodge around 4pm on Wednesday, October 21 came in through the fence bearing in their hands machetes and axes in a bid to harm the serving Corp members.

Men of the Nigerian Police force have however made some arrests as regards the ugly incident and said assured further investigations.

Reports futher said that amongst the indigenes were also students of same school who are also believed to be cult members.
According to a Corp member who spoke under the condition of anonymity, “properties and valuables of several Corp members were destroyed during the attack before the Police came into the situation”.

He also stated that no Corp member was hurt during the attack. Attempts to reach the principal of Ibeku high school, Mr Nwosu Chukwuemeka has proved abortive.

Also no words yet from the State’s Commisioner of Police, Mr. Joshak Habila.
Meanwhile, Taraba state had handed out punishment to 200 Batch ‘C’ 2015 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to the state

The 2015 NYSC Batch B Call-Up Letter has been released by the Corps and all NYSC Batch B corps members are implored to print theirs as soon as they can in preparation for camp.
                                                            

NYSC call up letter printing for Batch B corps members has been enabled. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) wishes to inform all prospective 2015 Batch B corps members that they can now print their call-up letters online.

How To Print Your NYSC Call Up Letter:
All Prospective Corps Members are required to visit the portal for the printing of call up letters via any of the links below:

Once on the NYSC portal, login with your registered e-mail address and password and click the ‘Print Call-Up Letter’ link.

NOTE: Printing of call up letters starts on Wednesday, 21st October and ends on Monday, 26th October, 2015. Those that didn’t pay should collect their call-up letters from their Institutions of graduation.

Batch B Orientation Course (stream I) holds 28th October – 16th November 2015 while (stream II) holds 25th November – 14th December, 2015www.nysc.org.ng

>>http://portal.nysc.gov.ng

                                        

The Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Lagos State, Cyril Akhanameh on Thursday disclosed that 45 corps members, who absconded during their service year will repeat the service.

“Forty-five corps members will repeat their service year due to physical absence from their places of primary assignments,” he said.

“Many of the corps members left their places of primary assignments for over three months without permission; when queried, they could not give any genuine reason for being absent.

“The level of their punishments will be determined by the level of their offences; many of them will repeat, serve for three or four months in any part of the states that NYSC Authorities will choose”, he added. (Source from DAILY POST)

In the wake of recent attacks and unrest across the states of Nigeria, the NYSC board has now included in the registration procedure of NYSC members to choose at least 3 states which they would love to be deployed from which one will be finally selected for them by the board.

I think the NYSC has started to become liberal and more democratic with this initiative but it will stand against the main motive for which the programme was established!

The disadvantage of this development will be very disturbing; as some states will be favoured at the expense of the others.

However, the corps members have restricted Geo-political zones depending on the school they graduated from!

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has barred pregnant women, nursing mothers and students engaged in postgraduate studies from enlisting in the national service across the country, until they are free to participate effectively.

Rising from a two-day pre-mobilisation workshop for the 2015 Batch “B” NYSC programme, held in Kaduna, Director-General of the NYSC, Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, stated that the exemption of pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as post-graduate students from national service was because they would not be able to undergo the four cardinal programmes of the NYSC.

The four cardinal programmes include mobilisation, orientation, primary assignment and winding-up passing out parade.

In a report from Daily Mail, the NYSC also resolved that henceforth, pregnant women and children would no longer be allowed into orientation camps across the country for service under the scheme established by the Gen. Yakubu Gowon administration in 1973.

Arguing that prospective corps members must go through the four stages of national service to qualify to receive certificate of national service, Olawumi faulted a situation whereby prospective corps members, especially pregnant women and nursing mothers, would be absent from the stages of the national service, only to resurface for posting to their various places of primary assignments.