RE: EDO ELECTION: POLICE ARREST CORPER FOR ELECTION MALPRACTICE: A REBUTTAL[b][/b]

Our attention has been drawn to a news item trending on social media that a corps member participating in the conduct of Gubernatorial Election in Edo State was arrested by Nigeria Police for Election Malpractice. This report, to say the least is untrue, malicious and could only exist in writer's figment of imagination. We wish to further condemn this allegation as a calculated attempt to misrepresent facts and futile efforts to devalue the patriotic and selfless service being rendered by our committed corps members in the conduct of this all important election.

For proper information and guidance of members of the public on what truly transpired, the Governorship election held in Edo State on Saturday, 19th September, 2020 as scheduled, with the participation of Corps members as ad hoc staff. Part of the responsibilities of Corps members include authenticating ballot papers by stamping and signing same before giving them out to voters to cast their votes. However, in Ekpoma, after proper accreditation of a male voter, a Corps member on duty gave out a properly signed and stamped ballot paper to a voter to cast his vote. However, while at the cubicle where the voter was expected to thumbprint before voting, the voter brought out about ten(10) additional ballot papers from his pockets which were pre-signed, stamped and thumprinted. It was at the point of stuffing the papers into the ballot box that some very observant, eagle-eyed police officers noticed and apprehended him. Upon further interrogation, it was discovered that even though the voter attempted forging the Corps member's signature behind the ballot papers, it was clear that the Corps member's signature was still different and distinct from the forged signatures.
Also, the numbers on the ballot papers found on the man was different from the number series of ballot booklets which the Corps member was issuing out to voters.

In addition, as against reports in the media of arrest of the Corps member, the NYSC Local Government Inspector in charge of the Local Government personally took the Corps member to the police station for safety, when party agents who were not pleased with what transpired attempted an attack on the Corps member. As such, reports making the rounds on the alleged arrest of the Corps member is false, unfounded and untrue in its entirety. Nothing of such happened as claimed by the media.

For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that since the NYSC entered into collaboration with the INEC in conduct of elections about a decade ago, participation by corps members has brought unimaginable increase in credibility of our electoral process. This position has been widely acknowledged and commended by all Stakeholders within the country and among international communities.

While admonishing social media operators to be more professional and accurate in their news reportage, the NYSC as a responsible and responsive organisation will not watch a few unscrupulous elements damage her hard earned reputation and integrity of her well trained and patriotic corps members.

SIGNED:
NYSC MANAGEMENT

NYSC ORIENTATION, A HUB FOR NATIONAL SERVICE
Born in the 90s, I grew up witnessing my siblings donning the NYSC uniform which I practically adored for its jackboots and the crested vest. Service in my household was seen as an utmost assignment to be fulfilled to the nation. I remember in 1996 when father had a tussle with my eldest sister who was summoned home from the US for the Service year. Though, this issue almost turned our peaceful and loving family chaotic for the ambition of my sister who didn’t want to serve. Eventually, she served and she was glad about the resolve. This family interest in national service and community works have preconditioned my mind for service since then and I have looked forward to it only to be taken aback with the recommendation of the Economy Recovery Committee to suspend orientation camp for two years.
Now, it begs the question why any good policy is being tempered with in this country. Instead of improving on good policies, why are we always quick to destroy the good ones?
In virtually everywhere in the world, orientation or induction course of any programme is institutionalized and considered indispensable but in Nigeria we fail with this little knowledge and it has affected our polity adversely. Be as it is, the Orientation course of the NYSC as a cardinal programme of the scheme is almost more important than serving the nation after camp. In the Orientation Camp, youths are brought together from every region of this country and are made to go through civic education about the nation under the same roof for a period of 3 weeks; social vices which can culminate into civil unrest are tamed and sometimes totally removed from the mindset of an exuberant youth whose knowledge about life is limited. During this period too, youths are also made to undergo leadership trainings which often go a long way to defining their personality in life, seeping into their futuristic endeavours. Youths who have not at any time in their lives lead in any role are proactively thrusted at the fore front of situations to take responsibility for others.
It is only applicatory to state that if a course like NYSC Orientation is abolished temporarily as recommended by this committee, the essence of service year will be defeated. Service without prerequisite trainings will be replete with niggling socio-

cultural crisis and political unrest especially during election period when corps members play pivotal roles in the election of our policy-makers. For instance, the sensitization of corps members pertaining to election is a serious issue that must not be carelessly handled. Therefore, it can only be appropriate to engage corps members on it intensely within a substantive period of time enough to instill discipline in them. In the Orientation camp, too, youths are sensitized about the customs and religions of their host communities and given a mindset on how to navigate such communities without encountering problems. Therefore, if this is absent, how can the NYSC have the ears of its corps members and prevent them from running afoul of the customs and traditions of such society? And if this continues, the objectives of the scheme will be totally shattered. This same orientation and sensitization given to them about their host communities, is also extended to capture the workplace environment through which corps members are forewarned about the dangers of such environments and the ethical standards expected from them – though, unemployment is on the rise and the number of employments being given out is relatively low but it is a common practice that most people recruited these days are from the breeds of corps members who are either taken in as interns or retained after service year. Therefore, how will corps members know if they are not educated? How can a corps member work their way out from the den of a sexual predator disguised as a boss if such is not informed? These are social issues that can lead to national crisis if not handled properly. How then do you handle such issues properly? Through suspension of Orientation Course for two years?
Also, the foundation for volunteerism and community works are laid in camp. Even the most developed countries in the world thrive on voluntary works by its citizens which factually serve as a gauge for the average patriotism shown by the citizens to the country. How do citizens carry out these works if the interest is not ignited in them first?
It is worthy of note that the same report singling out the NYSC Orientation course to be suspended did not recommend for the suspension of military and police trainings. The military and police will be trained in warfare and copious defence mechanisms to protect the integrity of the nation but our corps members will be sent out to cater for

the sick in our country where health personnel are in decline, they would be sent out to mentor the nation’s younger and most vulnerable generations and also help cushion our failing education system. How then did we even arrive at not orienting these groups of young people set to serve the nation in these various capacities?
It is important to state that the National Youth Service Corps is the best thing that has ever happened to this nation. It is one of the best policies ever made in the country, one which has witnessed sweeping public scrutiny but has been dynamic to be in existence for forty-seven years after its establishment.
Through the NYSC, the government have kept restless and volatile intellectual youths who could have wrecked untold harm on the nation busy for more than a year and have saved trillions of dollars as a result, from monies it could have expended on buying arms to maintain peace and security through the years. Through the scheme also, Nigeria can boast of the largest youth organization with a bracketed intellectual capacities in the whole of Africa.
Therefore, the recommendation of this committee to the President can only spell damning consequences on our civil life if implemented. Looking at the report from a cursory perspective, anyone could easily think out why such a recommendation of weighty and rippling effects will be haphazardly arrived at without recourse to any constructive premise aside COVID-19 which this committee is preemptively and discouragingly clinging to even in an unforeseeable two years away from now.
Now, since we are where we find ourselves, it behoves us to reflect on the following issues; if Orientation camps are being proposed to be closed based on the COVID-19 pandemic or for economic reasons. Is the Vice President surreptitiously suggesting that the war against the COVID-19 virus which has until now gulped billions in dollars will not be won in two years time? Why should we close our Orientation camps at this time when our nation is more polarized and civil education about our country in our schools is not taught or almost not taught well? Are military camps and rehabilitation camps going to be closed as well for the period of two years? What about school boarding houses? Are prisons and correctional centers going to be excluded in this

arrangement? These are salient issues which need to be attended to if an implementation of the recommendation is sought.
We are where we are today because of the past policies which have somersaulted to put our nation in a dire state. In 2007, History as a subject was almost removed from our secondary education curriculum, making it an elective subject instead. This seemingly feeble removal truncated the historical knowledge all Nigerian students would have garnered and left millions of young people ignorant of civic education which is a sine qua non for any citizen to be patriotic. No one person can respect or sacrifice for a country they do not know.
How do we expect a young person who is not properly educated about the history of this country to make good decisions even at the grass-roots?
Though, in 2019, the decision was reversed and History reintroduced into our Primary and Secondary curriculum but it remains an ugly patch on the history of our nation that a certain generation of people were debarred from learning about the country, and this situation will no doubt stand aloof to mete out on the nation the fair doses of the repercussions in the no distant future.
It will be a misnomer if instead of improving the National Youth Service Corps to make it the envy of our dynamic world, an export of human resources, it’s orientation course which is considered a substantial part of its programme is now being yanked off without considering the effects it will have on our civility.
Nigeria is not the only country looking after a corps of young people contributing to its national development. Countries not as wealthy as Nigeria like The Gambia and our neighbouring country, Ghana, are doing such without any hitch, why then should Nigeria’s case be different?
Countries that appreciate the essences of National Service are in constant awareness that the process of induction into National Service is an integral period preparing youths for leadership positions and igniting patriotism in them.
It is on this note that I want to appeal to the Federal Government not to implement the recommendation in the report pertaining to the NYSC and that efforts should be put in

place to extend the period of the orientation camp to critically train youths in entrepreneurial activities and effectively utilize them for the various agricultural programmes available in the country to boost food production now that we have to eat what we grow and grow what we eat.
Most importantly, efforts should be put in place to quell the tensions brewing among students of tertiary institutions who are already frustrated by the situation of the moment who may at any point protest this recommendation. It is an understatement to say such protests is not good for this period when the COVID-19 infection has gotten to community transmission.


ENROFACTORIA, a final year Law Student, writes from one of the Universities in Nigeria.

[center]MY CAMP, MY SUCCESS
https://www.nairaland.com/5941670/camp-success#90922322[/center]

With the social media agog in the last few days as regards the recommendations made by the Economic Sustainability Committee headed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo that NYSC Orientation Camp be suspended for Twenty-Four (24) months, it poses a subject of serious concern to me.
No doubt, the recent scourge arising from the global outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has become a serious threat to human existence and as such we certainly require extraordinary measures to live in these times.
However, as a nation with its dominant population as youths we need to tread with caution on the proposed suspension of the Orientation Course which obviously from my personal experience has made the NYSC Scheme the most globally recognized, efficient, laudable, sustainable and impactful of the youth schemes/programs we can boast of as a Nation.
Reminiscing the excitement to which I looked forward to NYSC as a young graduate back in the days, I remember vividly that I was actually looking forward to the Orientation Course more than the service year itself. For me the fun of camping with other young graduates from all over the country for a period of three weeks, coupled with the stories of the paramilitary trainings had an ecstasy that tagged along it in my mind.
Beyond my expectations, I was purposefully and extensively trained during my NYSC Orientation camp with skills that did not only make me exceptional during my service year as I leveraged on them but has also helped me emerge the man I am today.


I make bold to say that of the four cardinal programs of the NYSC, the three weeks orientation course is the core of what National Service is all about. It is packaged to equip you physically and mentally with an all-inclusive components comprising of:
• Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Sessions to curb the deep threatening youth unemployment in our nation.
• Military drills for physical and mental discipline and to checkmate insecurity and support inadequate security manpower.
• Lectures on topical subjects and other necessary spheres required for national development to equip you with the requisite knowledge.
• Leadership and citizenship training to prepare youths for participation in decision making and crave for teamwork to ensure success.
• Sporting activities.
• Martial arts for self-defense, physical fitness exercise
• National consciousness and identity sessions to build more patriotic youths; disease control to enable them join hands with government in such a time as this; advocacy training that equips you with life skills, and above all young people cultivate friendly ties living together in a regimented environment and this gives way for social integration and make room for a level platform for peaceful existence and nation building.

The saying, it takes 21 days to build a habit became true for me as a determined young man who left the NYSC orientation camp completely revamped and prepared for life of excellence.
If government now decides to suspend orientation course of the NYSC; obviously it will be a complete incapacitation of youth development in our nation as the Orientation Course for me remains fundamental in achieving the ideals of the scheme. This may gradually become an overture to ignite our already existing challenge with youth restiveness in Nigeria.
Retrospectively, I remember as a graduate of Accounting, that my career paradigm shift emanated from the Orientation Course. I joined the SDG’s while on camp and was trained as an advocate for the Millennium Development Goals. It was there I realized that there was more to be given to humanity beyond the dream of being a banker clad in suit. I did not get the opportunity to serve in the bank as I desired because of NYSC posting policy but I was posted to an insurance firm.
I realized that this burning desire to work in the banking sector was soon consumed with the passion I developed in the course of my mentoring as an SDG volunteer. This totally turned around my career path as not only did I discover myself but I did so well in the advocacy and was immediately employed at the end of the service year by an international NGO. The job has taken me to over fifteen countries of the world.
I was also well involved in the social activities on camp and I merged as the Mr Macho for that Orientation Course. My appreciation goes to the sponsors of that event on camp that year as the opportunity exposed me to what you may call my side hustle today; modelling for clothing labels.
I am sure there are thousands of other Nigerians willing to tell their stories of how the NYSC Orientation Course remains pivotal in whatever success they attained today. In my opinion, we should be looking at safer ways of hosting Orientation Courses rather than egressing it out only to end up with a country where its youth also become its albatross.

A friend of mine currently serving with this 2020 Batch “A” Stream I corps members called me about two weeks ago to express her frustrations in line with the organizational ethics. Listening to the young lady speak, I could only discern a youth who was not properly oriented before releasing her to the work environment. I am certain this is the fate of hundreds of the 2020 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members that had their Orientation Course truncated because of the pandemic.
In light of the huge challenges facing both the young graduates and over-saturated labour market, the need for the Orientation Course cannot be over emphasized as what has over the years made a difference between success and failure for most Nigerian graduates is the training and preparation they underwent during their camping period.

Ola Chinedu
Patriotic Citizen

177. Mzmary9: Quote Post
With the social media agog in the last few days as regards the recommendations made by the Economic Sustainability Committee headed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo that NYSC Orientation Camp be suspended for Twenty-Four (24) months, it poses a subject of serious concern to me.
No doubt, the recent scourge arising from the global outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has become a serious threat to human existence and as such we certainly require extraordinary measures to live in these times.
However, as a nation with its dominant population as youths we need to tread with caution on the proposed suspension of the Orientation Course which obviously from my personal experience has made the NYSC Scheme the most globally recognized, efficient, laudable, sustainable and impactful of the youth schemes/programs we can boast of as a Nation.
Reminiscing the excitement to which I looked forward to NYSC as a young graduate back in the days, I remember vividly that I was actually looking forward to the Orientation Course more than the service year itself. For me the fun of camping with other young graduates from all over the country for a period of three weeks, coupled with the stories of the paramilitary trainings had an ecstasy that tagged along it in my mind.
Beyond my expectations, I was purposefully and extensively trained during my NYSC Orientation camp with skills that did not only make me exceptional during my service year as I leveraged on them but has also helped me emerge the man I am today.


I make bold to say that of the four cardinal programs of the NYSC, the three weeks orientation course is the core of what National Service is all about. It is packaged to equip you physically and mentally with an all-inclusive components comprising of:
• Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Sessions to curb the deep threatening youth unemployment in our nation.
• Military drills for physical and mental discipline and to checkmate insecurity and support inadequate security manpower.
• Lectures on topical subjects and other necessary spheres required for national development to equip you with the requisite knowledge.
• Leadership and citizenship training to prepare youths for participation in decision making and crave for teamwork to ensure success.
• Sporting activities.
• Martial arts for self-defense, physical fitness exercise
• National consciousness and identity sessions to build more patriotic youths; disease control to enable them join hands with government in such a time as this; advocacy training that equips you with life skills, and above all young people cultivate friendly ties living together in a regimented environment and this gives way for social integration and make room for a level platform for peaceful existence and nation building.

The saying, it takes 21 days to build a habit became true for me as a determined young man who left the NYSC orientation camp completely revamped and prepared for life of excellence.
If government now decides to suspend orientation course of the NYSC; obviously it will be a complete incapacitation of youth development in our nation as the Orientation Course for me remains fundamental in achieving the ideals of the scheme. This may gradually become an overture to ignite our already existing challenge with youth restiveness in Nigeria.
Retrospectively, I remember as a graduate of Accounting, that my career paradigm shift emanated from the Orientation Course. I joined the SDG’s while on camp and was trained as an advocate for the Millennium Development Goals. It was there I realized that there was more to be given to humanity beyond the dream of being a banker clad in suit. I did not get the opportunity to serve in the bank as I desired because of NYSC posting policy but I was posted to an insurance firm.
I realized that this burning desire to work in the banking sector was soon consumed with the passion I developed in the course of my mentoring as an SDG volunteer. This totally turned around my career path as not only did I discover myself but I did so well in the advocacy and was immediately employed at the end of the service year by an international NGO. The job has taken me to over fifteen countries of the world.
I was also well involved in the social activities on camp and I merged as the Mr Macho for that Orientation Course. My appreciation goes to the sponsors of that event on camp that year as the opportunity exposed me to what you may call my side hustle today; modelling for clothing labels.
I am sure there are thousands of other Nigerians willing to tell their stories of how the NYSC Orientation Course remains pivotal in whatever success they attained today. In my opinion, we should be looking at safer ways of hosting Orientation Courses rather than egressing it out only to end up with a country where its youth also become its albatross.

A friend of mine currently serving with this 2020 Batch “A” Stream I corps members called me about two weeks ago to express her frustrations in line with the organizational ethics. Listening to the young lady speak, I could only discern a youth who was not properly oriented before releasing her to the work environment. I am certain this is the fate of hundreds of the 2020 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members that had their Orientation Course truncated because of the pandemic.
In light of the huge challenges facing both the young graduates and over-saturated labour market, the need for the Orientation Course cannot be over emphasized as what has over the years made a difference between success and failure for most Nigerian graduates is the training and preparation they underwent during their camping period.

Ola Chinedu
Patriotic Citizen