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Don’t Give Or Collect Bribe, Avoid Cutting Corners, DG Urges Corps Members
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has warned corps members to stop cutting corners while reminding them that their services to the nation transcends beyond service year.
The director general disclosed this to the 2021 Batch ‘B’ (Stream 1) corps members during the virtual meeting, yesterday morning in all orientation camps and NYSC formations nationwide.
Ibrahim encouraged the members of the service corps to remember always the last line of the Oath of Allegiance sworn to during the Swearing in Ceremony and abide by it.
The one star General, who is an associate professor urged corps members to live with the reality embedded in the said portion which says ‘always remember the motto and strive continuously to live up the ideals of the National Youth Service Corps during and after my service year’.
“My dear children in the national service, I am addressing you this morning as a father and director general of NYSC. You have to use your participation in this laudable programme to promote national unity and integration. The government at all levels have invested much in you and you have to be patriotic.”
“I want to admonish you not to cut corners and desist from offering or taking bribe as both persons are liable in the court of law. NYSC keeps records and any negative thing you do today will hunt you in the nearest future”.
“NYSC has continuously been building for leadership, crop of disciplined, honest and detribalised Nigerians who are well groomed and cerebral right from the orientation camp and indeed throughout the service year and beyond to ensure that the unity of this country is sacrosanct and non-negotiable,” he said.
The NYSC DG warned that corps members should desist from embarking on night journeys as this is extremely dangerous for the corps members, and brings negative publicity to the scheme when unforeseen circumstances happen.
He also commiserated with the management of the scheme, state governments and families of the five prospective corps members who lost their precious lives recently, praying such will never happen again.
“However, I wish to let you know that the unfortunate incident occurred late into the night but I am using the opportunity provided by this address to reiterate our commitment to providing adequate security and welfare to all our corps members nationwide”, he promised.
In closing remarks, the NYSC Number One Corps Member admonished the corps members to take their personal security and well-being seriously by taking the Covid-19 vaccine as against the conspiracy theory circulating on social media.
“NYSC loves you just like your parents do. There is no harm in taking the vaccination. Ensure that you take Covid-19 vaccine to protect yourselves and others around you because the nation wants you alive.
“Disregard all the fallacies that the social media is churning out concerning the effects of the vaccination. I have taken the two jabs likewise all the officers that are travelling to the camps with me. We don’t want to keep you perpetually at home and that is why the Federal Government is investing hugely to protect you right at the point of entering the service and indeed throughout the service year,” he said.
The NYSC helmsman of the leading youth organisation in Sub-Saharan Africa, enjoined corps members to use social media to promote the objectives and advance the cause of the scheme.
“Don’t promote fake news or forward every news or reports sent to you without verification but use it to promote our national unity. You are expected to use the platform to preach unity and love and not to use it to discredit the activities of the scheme”
“NYSC has various social media handles and accounts you can use to verify all that you need to know about NYSC but if you go against this advice, you will be culpable for your actions”, he concluded.
He wished the corps members a successful orientation course and a fruitful service year with admonition to them to serve the nation diligently and with unflinching commitment and steadfastness.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.