Activist Seeks Amendment Of NYSC Act

Nkereuwem  Akpan, a human rights lawyer, has filed a suit seeking a declaration for the amendment of the NYSC Act to give potential corps members the right to choose where to perform their primary assignments.

The suit, which was endorsed at the Federal High Court Registry in Abuja on Monday, was made available to newsmen by the plaintiff.

The originating summons has the NYSC, Director General of NYSC, President of the Senate, Speaker, House of Representatives, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as well as President, Federal Republic of Nigeria as defendants.

The plaintiff sought a declaration that the sixth defendant (President Goodluck Jonathan) could by virtue of the provisions of Sections 5 and 315 of the 1999 Constitution, effect the amendment.

He further sought a declaration that the third defendant (President of the Senate) and the fourth defendant (Speaker, House of Representatives) could use the provisions of the constitution to initiate the process of amending the Act.

Akpan also sought a declaration that, being a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he was entitled by the provisions of Sections 4, 5, 6(6) (a) (b), 36, 46(1) as well as Section 315 of the 1999 Constitution to pursue the action.

The Plaintiff, in his 19-page affidavit, averred that a total of 10 NYSC members were brutally attacked, maimed and killed during the mayhem that engulfed a few states after the presidential elections for no just cause.

He said that the corps members killed, were from states other than the states where they were murdered.

He further averred that influential citizens had abused the essence of the scheme, adding that children and wards of the rich were not allowed to serve in areas considered as trouble spots.

He stated that only children and wards of the less-privileged were usually flung to far places for their primary assignments.

The plaintiff said that the third, fourth and sixth defendants could intervene by amending the NYSC Act to accord corps members the freedom to serve wherever they desired.

He also averred that the court was duty bound to compel the defendants to amend the Act to forestall another bloodbath of the defenceless corps members.