NYSC: We’ll prosecute ‘corpers’ who manipulate their posting

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says it will prosecute any corps-producing institution or prospective corps member engaging in manipulation and other sharp practices in the scheme’s mobilisation process.

Johnson Olawumi, a brigadier-general and director-general of the scheme, gave the warning at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Batch ‘A’ pre-mobilization workshop in Owerr‎i, the Imo state capital.

Olawumi said the scheme’s experience, from its e-mobilisation process, revealed irregularities such as registration by proxy, falsification of medical and marriage documents, provision of false information by prospective corps members to manipulate their postings, as well as sharps practices by some institutions.

He warned that such unwholesome practices would no longer be condoned, emphasising that the practice whereby parents request for concessional postings for their children on health or marital grounds when information regarding such were not provided during the online registration, would not be accepted.

He said the management of the NYSC remained open to constructive criticisms that would assist in fine-tuning its operations.

Olawumi used the occasion to ‎appeal to the Imo state government to ensure speedy completion of the NYSC permanent orientation camp in the state.

Rochas Okorocha, the Imo state governor, spoke at the occasion, calling on the NYSC and other stakeholders to step up efforts towards making youths more relevant in the socio-economic affairs of the country.

Okorocha, who said the neglect of youth, especially those from low economic backgrounds, contributed to the problem of insecurity in parts of the country, spoke of the gains Nigeria stands to make if the country confides in youths and supports them to realize their potentials.

He particularly tasked the NYSC with taking the lead in strengthening its skills acquisition progr‎amme, to enable corps members become experts in various vocations thereby making them self-employed.

“The quest for white collar jobs is just shadow-chasing; this is an era of change, and you can aspire to be your own boss,” he said.

The Governor noted that 70 percent of the expenditure made on labour force in Imo state’s infrastructural development projects went to non-Nigerians, urging youths to acquire skills to enable them handle such jobs.

‎The workshop was attended by the NYSC top management staff, representatives of partner agencies including JAMB, NUC and NBTE as well as students’ affairs officers of corps producing institutions.