By ZAKAA LAZARUS, ABUJA
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has queried over 200 corps members for allegedly skipping it’s Christmas carol function in Atiba, Oyo State.
The Scheme also debunked an online media publication which accused it of religious bias says the scheme is working in line with it’s bylaws.
The scheme said the queries issued to the disobedientcorps members by the Local Government Inspector, serves as a corrective mechanism in the Scheme and has nothing to do with the alleged Christmas Carol.
The statement read: “The Management of National Youth Service Corps wishes to draw the attention of the general public to a misleading publication by an online medium on the above subject matter.
“It is pertinent to note that, every Corps Member is at liberty to practice any religion of his/her choice, as allowed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without cohesion.
“Additionally, the weekly Community Development Service and monthly General Community Development Service are part of the major activities that all Corps Members must partake in, throughout their service year, without which they are not qualified to collect the Certificate of National Service.
“For the purpose of clarity, the affected Corps Members in Atiba did not participate in their scheduled Community Development Service activities and were also absent during the December 2024 headcount that was conducted to ascertain the number of Corps Members on ground in Atiba.
” Furthermore, they were also not in their respective places of Primary Assignment within the Local Government during the period in question.
“Disturbingly, they all failed to obtain the written permission of the NYSC Oyo State Coordinator to travel outside the State between December 16, 2024 and January 6, 2025.
“The queries issued to them by the Local Government Inspector, serves as a corrective mechanism in the Scheme and has nothing to do with the alleged Christmas Carol.
“As a matter of fact, the National Youth Service Corps as a responsible organization operates within the confines of the Bye-Laws which not only guides the activities of all Corps Members but also stipulates penalties for every offence.
“NYSC Management hereby reiterates its open door policy of good media relationship with members of the press towards a balanced reportage of NYSC activities and programmes, instead of publishing unverified and misleading information about the Scheme.
“Members of the public are by this release enjoined to disregard the online publication with its erroneous intent to cause unnecessary religious apprehension among the public,” the statement added.
