The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has threatened heavy sanctions against the schools or officials caught abetting the fraudulent mobilisation of corps members for national service.

The Scheme said such action led to the blacklisting of some schools guilty of such infractions in the past three years.

NYSC Director-General, Major-General Shuaibu Ibrahim, made this known on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Batch ‘A’ Pre-Mobilisation Workshop, in Abuja, with the theme: ‘Enhancing the Credibility of the Mobilisation Process through Effective Data Control’.

In his words,  “As you are all aware, data generated from the Corps Producing Institutions are the raw material processed for the Mobilization exercise.

“This record is supposed to be pure and undiluted, but for selfish motives of some players along the production chain, we have continued to encounter challenges.

“Let me, however, assure the public that we are not letting down our guard as we have continued to evolve and enhance control measures, including those that are technology-driven. These efforts require the buy-in of other relevant stakeholders, including Students Affairs Officers (SAOS).

“Since coming on board in 2019, we have been having meetings with Corps Producing Institutions (CPIs) especially the Student Affairs Officers so that our mobilisation process will not be compromised.

“We also introduced indemnity requiring the head of institutions to endorse whatever data are forwarded to the NYSC, so that; if there is any infraction, the Scheme can apply sanctions. That is what we have been doing. We have blacklisted institutions guilty of such infractions.”

Earlier, the NYSC Director, Corps Mobilisation, Victoria Ango, stated that despite the success story, stakeholders must be mindful of the increasing number of dishonest people abusing the (mobilisation) technology for personal gain.

“This is a challenge that should be taken very seriously because the NYSC is determined not to take further excuses from the CPIs about data being compromised by whatever method or individual directly or indirectly connected with the scheme’ mobilisation process,” she warned.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Musa Bello, in his address, attributed the modest achievements of the FCT Administration to the cooperation and support of critical stakeholders, including the NYSC in various spheres of development such as education, health and community development service.

A bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to raise the academic qualification for office of the President, Governors, State and National Assembly members from school certificate to university degree or its equivalent has passed for second reading on the floor of Nigeria’s House of Representatives.

The proposed legislation titled: ‘A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation, 2004, to Review the Required Educational Qualification for Election into Certain Political Offices and for Related Matters’, was sponsored by Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, (APC, Ogun).

Leading the debate on its general principles, Onanuga said the bill was not targeted at stifling the interest of Nigerians in politics, explaining that rather, it would help Nigerians to sufficiently prepare for the humongous task of political leadership.

She opined that it was unfair to demand a university degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate from a graduate or anyone applying for strategic position in a company, while those seeking for political offices would be allowed to have only school certificate.

When put to a voice vote by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase who presided over the session, it got the support of majority of the lawmakers.