ByJerry Uwah
Lagos
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has been dragged before a Federal High Court in Lagos over the N3, 000 fee charged prospective Corps members for on-line mobilisation.
Citizens Advocacy Initiative for Accountable Leadership (CAIFAL), yesterday, filed a suit against NYSC over what it termed “mobilisation fraud”.
The applicant is seeking an order declaring the fee illegal, null and void.
Also joined as respondents in the suit are Sidmach Technologies Ltd, Minister for Youths and Sports, and the Attorney General of the Federation.
CAIFAL in its suit number FHC/L/CS/840/16 is seeking a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of the NYSC Act 1993, the first to third respondents, have no statutory rights, to demand a pre-mobilisation fee from prospective corps members.
In a supporting affidavit deposed to by one Mr. Mike Ogie, the group avered that sometime in 2014, the NYSC introduced an electronic registration programme, where prospective corps members were required to register online with the sum of N3,000 as precedents for mobilisation.
He averred that the NYSC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a company called Sidmach Technologies, to collect the fees on behalf of the NYSC, through the issuance of scratch cards to prospective corps members.
According to him, under the memorandum, 70 per cent of the money collected, would be ceded to the company (Sidmachy), while the balance of 30 percent was reserved for the NYSC.
He further added that the company had since 2014, collected over N1.3 billion on behalf of the NYSC, without remitting any of its proceeds to the scheme or federation’s account.
The group is, therefore, seeking a declaration, that both the previous collections and continued collection of the money from prospective corps members, is illegal, wrongful and most improper.
