Fake Corps members jump-over fences during screening


Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, has revealed how some fake corps members jumped through the fence when they discovered that they were about to be exposed during screening at the recent orientation exercise.

Ibrahim addressing media personnel, including editors, bureau chiefs of several media organisations at a parley in Abuja, Thursday, on steps taken to address the issue of enrolment of unqualified persons for mobilization by some corps producing institutions said the scheme under his watch will never mobilise unqualified Nigerians.

He said though, NYSC is not an educational regulating body but the Act empowers it not to mobilise unqualified Nigerians.

According to him, the deployment of ICT solution in the mobilization process and existing collaboration with WAEC and JAMB have enhanced the integrity of the process and reduces the fake corps members mobilization.

“However, these gains are currently being threatened by the presentation of unqualified persons for mobilization by some corps producing institutions for mobilization into the scheme. We have already informed all corps producing institutions (CPIs) of our intention to blacklist any of them that engages in this act.

“Because we know that sometimes ICT can fail, we have embarked on conducting physical checks and you need to see what is happening by the time some corps members are asked questions, they suddenly scaled the fence and ran away,” he said.

Ibrahim also lamented the case of corps members presenting fake medical/fitness certificates, saying requesting for a certificate of fitness at the point of registration at the orientation camp is not mean to deny anybody with medical condition, but to enable the scheme identify and give them the needed attention.

“We are therefore appealing to parents and guardians to guide and advise their wards against this unwholesome practice, which in the past led to unfair vilification of NYSC for alleged negligence in the handing of the corps members with poor medical conditions.”

He therefore warned that those caught will be prosecuted according to the Acts of the scheme. He also said the scheme is working on the amendment of the punishment stipulated by the Acts so as to give it teeth to bite.

“Let me reiterate our warning that any person who present fake certificate in an attempt to get mobilized for service will be handed over to security agencies for prosecution. Similar fate awaits any unauthorized person caught wearing NYSC uniform, especially to misled or defraud unsuspecting members of the public,” he warned.

Welcoming the participants, the director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, appealed that the media continue to display the ethical principles of objectivity and balance in reporting the NYSC and promised that the scheme will continue to keep its doors open for clarifications on issues that concern the service corps and its operations.

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