Following the death
of three members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) the Senate has raised questions bothering on
the relevance of the scheme which was
introduced in the 70s.
The decision of the
senate came after death of Ifedolapo
Amoke Oladepo, Elechi Chiyerom and Ukeme Asuquo who died in Kano, Bayelsa and
Zamfara States Orientation Camp respectively.
In a motion moved by the Senate Chief Whip,
Senator Olusola Adeyeye, the Senate called for the total overhaul of the NYSC –
a mandatory national service programme for Nigerian university graduates –
adding that the state of orientation camps across the country was unfit for
human habitation.
The Senate
subsequently resolved and called on the federal government to improve on
medical facilities in all Orientation Camps across Nigeria, and to deploy to
these medical centres experienced medical personnel.
It also mandated its
Committee on Sports and Youth Development to conduct a thorough and
comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the
three corps members in order to guide against future occurrences.
Senator Adeyeye in
his motion, had argued that “ The death of corps members are becoming recurrent
in almost all NYSC Camps across the country. Experienced medical personnel are
practically non-existent in all our Orientation Camps across the country, as
fresh doctors who have not garnered any experience are the ones administering
treatment…
“Medical facilities
at most Orientation Camps leave a lot to be desired as one of the deceased,
Ifedolapo, called home five hours to her death and told her older sister, Mrs.
Oyeyode Abimbola (a nurse) to start coming to her Kano Orientation Camp,
alleging poor care at the NYSC camp.
“An Orientation Camp
that houses over three thousand corps members cannot boast of modern facilities
to cater for the needs of corps members while undergoing the mandatory
Orientation Programme.
“NYSC officials are
not up and doing in their official duties, as they expose these corps members
to all manner of dangers. I strongly believe that NYSC needs total overhauling
particularly its healthcare system.”
In his contribution,
Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, noted that “This is a
sad moment for us. What I have heard confirms what I thought was in the realm
of speculations. It may not have been intentional, but I think it was an act of
irresponsibility. Who will not provide medical attention to a sick person? We
look forward to the outcome of the investigation.
“An example should
be set. To say the least, this is a barbaric act. This calls for a rethink
about the NYSC Act. Is it really worth it to go and die in an orientation camp?
Politicians use these same corps members to rig elections and we do not value
their lives.”
Adamawa Senator
Binta Garba also supported the motion, saying that “From what we have seen, we
need to overhaul the NYSC. We need to look into the activities of NYSC.”
President of the
Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, in his final remarks, said: “We need to address
the issue of health services in orientation camps. This is an issue we should
capture in the 2017 budget.”
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