Apapa:MARAN Accuses Osinbajo Task Force Of Extortion

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September 12, 2019

The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, MARAN has accused the Presidential Task Force On Restoration Of Law and Order In Apapa headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of turning the team to a cash cow it now uses to extort port users and other stakeholders in the port.

MARAN, the flagship of maritime reportage, in a release to the magazine called for the dissolution of the team and prosecution involved in the extortion.

The statement reads thus:

The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, MARAN has accused the Presidential Task Team On Restoration Of Law and Order In Apapa, led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of turning the team to a cash cow it now uses to extort port users and other stakeholders around the port.

According to a press release by the flagship association, the team has over stayed it purpose and therefore should be disbanded.

The statement reads thus:

After extensive checks, the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) can report authoritatively that Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu, the All Enforcement Lead of the Presidential Task Team on Restoration of Law and Order in Apapa, Lagos State, may have converted his position into an avenue for alleged self-aggrandisement and illegal enrichment of his cohorts.

Instructively, in the Task Team’s terms of reference, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is saddled with the responsibility of Security and Enforcement Supervision.

The Task Team’s Police Team Lead, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sulaiman, is one of the successors to Odumosu as Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences.

Impeccable sources claimed that Odumosu allegedly operates a private office located in the Yaba area of Lagos where road haulage fleet operators routinely visit to lodge bribes ranging from N500,0000.00 to N2,000,000.00 to procure un-receipted approvals that facilitate movements of their vehicles over certain agreed periods to and from the ports in Apapa.

Notably, the Task Team’s Police Team Lead, during his tenure as a one-time Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences, had continued on the trajectory of heavy-handedness trod by his predecessors, including Odumosu, which has established this nebulous organ of the Lagos State Government as a veritable Gestapo squad sadistically spreading sorrow across the state without restraint from the principals.

These extortionist tendencies, which the duo have introduced into the Task Team’s mission, have infested their subordinates who now regard the Lagos ports access roads as paved with gold for their pickings.

It would be recalled that Sulaiman had, during his tenure as Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences, created three zones manned by his acolytes, ostensibly to cover and sanitise Apapa and environs adequately, but, which operations ended up endowing the operatives with reputations of new height in corruption.

MARAN further learnt that, apart from the illegal payment point derisively referred to as Odumosu Bank by hapless road haulage operators, at the Second Rainbow, Mile Two, and Kirikiri sections of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, squads of the Task Team routinely demand and collect the sum of N80,000.00 per truck to issue what they claim are “approvals from our Abuja Office for the release of arrested trucks.”

Similarly, the Task Team’s operatives routinely demand and receive bribes of the sum of N80,000.00 in order to accord truckers with unqualified trucks “priority access” to the Tin-Can Island Port Complex (TCIPC) and the Lagos Port Complex (LPC).

MARAN is sorely disappointed that, owing to the tendencies which gloss over the deep-seated rot perpetrated by the undesirable elements in uniforms, notably the Police, the words encapsulated in the terms of reference of the Presidential Task Team on Restoration of Law and Order in Apapa have failed to be transformed into achievements.

And to think that there was so much promise in those words as the adhoc body was mandated to see to the “the development of an effective management plan for the entire port area traffic, including the cargo, fuel distribution and business district traffic; enforcing the permanent removal of all stationary trucks on the highway, and the development of an effective manual truck call-up system, pending the introduction of the electronic truck call-up system.

It also includes the implementation of a workable Empty Container Return and Export Container Truck Handling Policy, amongst others”

However, with the benefit of its vantage position as watch dog and well-informed industry stakeholders, MARAN is not surprised that, in spite of its wide-ranging membership, the Presidential Task Team on Restoration of Law and Order in Apapa has performed woefully in the execution of its brief.

Sadly, over four months after its inauguration following an emergency meeting convened by the President and chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on April 25, 2019, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Presidential Task Team headed by Vice President Osinbajo as Chairman is yet to sign off as having executed the directive issued by President Muhammadu Buhari to eliminate in quick time the gridlock that has bedevilled the Lagos ports city of Apapa, permeating the environs.

MARAN has closely observed and duly noted the drama being played out on the Lagos ports access roads over the years, including the respective reigns of the numerous task forces that took turns exacerbating the traffic situation while feeding fat on extorting road haulage operators and other commercial vehicle operators as the roads infrastructure and the environments of those locations generally degraded and presented serious security and health challenges.

It is glaring that the Presidential Task Team is merely failure-on-arrival and incapable of restoring law and order in Apapa, even as its operatives, in the manner of those who worked in similar adhoc bodies in the past, excel in routinely intimidating and regularly extorting huge sums from road haulage operators.

Chief Remi Ogungbemi, the Chairman of Association of Maritime Trucks Owners(AMATO), couldn’t agree less with our position when he confirmed that extortions of various kinds are still going on among the task team members.

He even echoed our fears that no amount of numbers of task forces can eradicate the malignant traffic gridlock on our port access roads until requisite infrastructures such as motorable roads , trailer parks and containers holding bays are provided.

The constant recourse to task forces, we believe, is an ad-hoc arrangement that keeps postponing the evil days but which provide an open sesame for such task force members to enrich themselves.

It is safe to conclude that, apart from the country’s Vice President being a member and also heading it, another major difference between the Presidential Task Team and its immediate predecessor is the slight change in the composition of the band of uniformed extortionists that form its members.

Instructively, in creating the team, Mr. President had directed total withdrawal from the roads of military personnel who have been prominent and dominant features in several of the contrived exercises to unravel the Apapa gridlock.

Even as the Presidential Task Team on Restoration of Law and Order in Apapa has strenuously avoided having the words “task force”, preferring “task team”, in its nomenclature, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) that are saddled with the task team’s “Security and Enforcement Supervision” have been most forceful in effecting this merely for the sake of extorting humongous sums from road haulage operators.

A special panel constituted by the Nigerian Navy (NN) to investigate allegations of extortion of truckers on the Lagos ports access roads by its personnel that served in the disbanded Task Force had recently submitted its report to the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas.

Varying degrees of sanctions were recommended by the panel, which had mainly been instigated by allegations of the sum of over N100,000,000.00 having been found in the bank account of a junior officer; the sum suspected to be proceeds of bribes collected on Lagos ports access roads whilst he was a member of the defunct Task Force.

With the swelter of outrage over the overwhelming extortionist influences of the Police in the Task Team, it is only proper to wish that the Presidency dismisses the Police from the Lagos ports access roads, just as it did with the Navy in the wake of the strident complaints by distraught industry operators indicting the Navy for suffocating extortion, among other gross abuses of its privileged position as head of the defunct Task Force.

Will the Police summon the needed will to toe the line of the Navy and investigate its personnel that make the lead security agency for the Task Team?

MARAN expects the Police to do just that and sanction those found culpable accordingly!

PDP Says Presidential Judgement Is Robbery; Heads To Supreme Court

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The Source

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September 11, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

Smarting from a shock unanimous defeat at the Presidential Election Tribunal, the People’s Democratic Party says the judgement falls below standard, and will not stand a rigorous interrogation at the Supreme Court. The party has, therefore, declared that it is heading to the Supreme Court.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyon, entitled:

*Verdict, ASubversion of Justice*, the party said it rejected the judgement in its entirety.

It reads:

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) completely rejects the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal describing it as provocative, barefaced subversion of justice and direct assault on the integrity of our nation’s justice system.

“The party is particularly shocked that the tribunal failed to point to justice despite the flawless evidence laid before it, showing that President Buhari was not only unqualified to contest the election but also did not score the majority of valid votes at the polls.

“The PDP finds as bewildering that a court of law could validate a clear case of perjury and declaration of false information in a sworn affidavit, as firmly established against President Muhammadu Buhari, even in the face of incontrovertible evidence.

“The party is also rudely shocked that the Court took over the roles of the Respondents’ lawyers who clearly abandoned their pleadings by refusing to call evidence in defense of the petition. The court raked up all manner of excuses to make up for the yawning gaps occasioned by the total absence of any evidence from the Respondents.

“Nigerians and the international community watched in utter disbelief when the tribunal ruled that one need not provide a copy or certified true copy of educational certificate such individual claimed to possess, contrary to established proof of claims of certification.

“The party notes as strange that the court even went ahead to provide rationalizations in favour of President Buhari, even when all hard facts before it shows that he did not possess the claimed educational certificate and that the Army was not in possession of his WAEC certificate as claimed in the affidavit he deposed to in his Presidential nomination form.

“The PDP also described as shocking that the court approved the flawed declaration of President Buhari as the winner of the election despite evidence to show the perpetration of illegalities, manipulations, alterations and subtraction of valid votes freely given to Atiku Abubakar by Nigerians.

“Indeed, the pervading melancholic atmosphere across our nation since the verdict is a direct indication that the judgment has not fulfilled the desires and expectations of Nigerians.

“The PDP however encouraged Nigerians to remain calm and not to lose hope or surrender to despondency or self-help, as our lawyers are upbeat in obtaining justice at the Supreme Court.

“This is more so as the tribunal itself admitted that there are several errors in the judgment.”

But the APC which candidate’s victory was re-affirmed is celebrating, and insists Nigerians freely voted for President Muhammadu Buhari, who, himself, has described his victory as that of Nigerians.

Tribunal Judgement: Atiku Heads To The Supreme Court

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Uche Mbah

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September 11, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, is heading to the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling of the Presidential Election Tribunal, which ruled that President Muhammadu Buhari is duly elected.

Mike Ozhekhome, one of the learned silks that represented Atiku, insisted that they will Challenge the “misevaluation” of critical evidence in judgement.

“That we’re appealing to the Supreme Court is as certain as death,” Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and one of the main Counsels for Atiku Abubakar said.

The Election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja had confirmed president Muhammadu Buhari duly elected president of Nigeria in a landmark judgment that lasted for more than eight hours.

The court room was filled to the brim with lawyers, government officials and Party representatives.

But it is not all losses for Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, as the tribunal dismissed the submission of INEC that Atiku is not qualified to contest the election because he is a Cameroonian national. It also insisted that the lead counsel of the Atiku group, Livy Uzoukwu, is duly called to the Bar and is qualified to practice law in Nigeria.

The Peoples democratic Party confirmed their determination to go to the supreme court, calling the judgement “a subversion of Justice”.

Below is their reaction.

“September 11, 2019

Press Statement

Verdict, A Subversion of Justice, Says PDP…Heads To Supreme Court

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) completely rejects the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal describing it as provocative, barefaced subversion of justice and direct assault on the integrity of our nation’s justice system.

The party is particularly shocked that the tribunal failed to point to justice despite the flawless evidence laid before it, showing that President Buhari was not only unqualified to contest the election but also did not score the majority of valid votes at the polls.

The PDP finds as bewildering that a court of law could validate a clear case of perjury and declaration of false information in a sworn affidavit, as firmly established against President Muhammadu Buhari, even in the face of incontrovertible evidence.

The party is also rudely shocked that the Court took over the roles of the Respondents’ lawyers who clearly abandoned their pleadings by refusing to call evidence in defense of the petition. The court raked up all manner of excuses to make up for the yawning gaps occasioned by the total absence of any evidence from the Respondents.

Nigerians and the international community watched in utter disbelief when the tribunal ruled that one need not provide a copy or certified true copy of educational certificate such individual claimed to possess, contrary to established proof of claims of certification.

The party notes as strange that the court even went ahead to provide rationalizations in favour of President Buhari, even when all hard facts before it shows that he did not possess the claimed educational certificate and that the Army was not in possession of his WAEC certificate as claimed in the affidavit he deposed to in his Presidential nomination form.

The PDP also described as shocking that the court approved the flawed declaration of President Buhari as the winner of the election despite evidence to show the perpetration of illegalities, manipulations, alterations and subtraction of valid votes freely given to Atiku Abubakar by Nigerians.

Indeed, the pervading melancholic atmosphere across our nation since the verdict is a direct indication that the judgment has not fulfilled the desires and expectations of Nigerians.

The PDP however encouraged Nigerians to remain calm and not to lose hope or surrender to despondency or self-help, as our lawyers are upbeat in obtaining justice at the Supreme Court.

This is more so as the tribunal itself admitted that there are several errors in the judgment.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

Breaking: Tribunal Confirms Buhari Winner, Dismisses Atiku/PDP’s Petition

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The Source

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September 11, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

After an over eight-hour gruelling judgement, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal dealt a deadly blow to the Petition filed by the PDP and its Presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku, challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the November 23 Presidential poll.

The members unanimously dismissed the petition on all grounds, asking both parties to bear the cost of their legal fees. The Petitioners’ legal team, it submitted, did not do their homework thoroughly, and did not expect the Tribunal to do it for them.

For the Petitioners, it was an anti-climax to a very high expectation. They had exuded infectious confidence.

But the two main planks on which they based their petition – Buhari’s qualification to contest the election, and the use of the INEC Server – fell like a pack of cards before their Lordships.

Having risen in the Military to the rank of a Major General, Buhari’s qualification was not in doubt, and higher than a WAEC certificate which, constitutionally, is the minimum qualification.

Said the Chairman of the Appeal Tribunal, “Buhari is not only qualified, but is eminently qualified”

On the INEC Server, the Tribunal ruled that the Petitioners were unable to prove that INEC made use of a central Server.

Details, later…

Super Eagles Draw Ukraine, Misses Flurry Of Chances

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The Source

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September 11, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Super Eagles of Nigeria squandered a two goal lead in the last 15 minutes of the encounter against Andriy Shevchenko’s-coached Yellow-Blue Ukrainian team, to settle for a 2-2 draw with their host.

Debutant, Ayodele Aribo and Victor Osimhen had given the Super Eagles the lead in the first 25 minutes of the match after a neat exchange of passes and dribbles by Girondins Bordeaux midfielder, Samuel Kalu and Everton Football Club player, Alex Iwobi, who set up Ayodele-Aribo to score the first goal of the match within the first three minutes of the match.

Osimhen doubled the lead from the penalty spot after a rough tackle on Kalu in the 18-yard box to score his first senior international goal.

The coach-Gernot Rohr tutored team squandered flurry of chances in the first half to have extended the lead beyond the Eastern European Country reach, but Samuel Chukwueze, Kalu and Iwobi were wasteful.

Oleksander Lubhin, the Ukrainian goalkeeper, kept his team on the match, making several saves to deny the Super Eagles their third goal.

Rohr had started the game with Francis Uzoho, Ola Aina, William Troost Ekong, Olwasemilore Ajayi and Jamilu Collins in the defense.

Oghenekaro Etebo, Ayodele-Aribo, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Samuel Kalu and Osimhen completed the starting 11.

In the 75th minute, Rohr replaced Iwobi, Chukwueze and Kalu with Moses Simon, Esiti and Bonaventure.

The Ukrainians capitalised on this, scoring two goals within two minutes.

Oleksander Zinchenko and Yaremachkuk scored two quick goals to level the score line thus, sending their vociferous fans at the Dnipro Stadium into wild jubilation.

The match was the Super Eagles first outing since the 2019 African Cup of Nations Championship in Egypt where it placed third, winning the bronze medal.

Rohr had given Ayodele-Aribo, Anderson Esiti, Josh Maja and Dennis Bonaventure their first taste of International Football.

Election Tribunal: Buhari Summons Security Chiefs

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Uche Mbah

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September 11, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

Ahead of the Presidential Election Tribunal judgment today, President MuhammaduBuhari Tuesday summoned the security chiefs for a closed door meeting ostensibly to discuss the security implications in whatever way the case goes.

Although there was a threat by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, generally called the Shiites, over their traditional festival which government claimed they wanted to use to opportunities to foment trouble, their threat has already been contained by the time the meeting started in the Afternoon.

Already, there were indications that the Directorate of State Services, DSS, circulated internal memos telling staff to be vigilant as, according to the alleged circular, the opposition has plans to destabilize the country if the judgment goes to the APC.

There has been no reports on the outcome of the meeting yet.

The presidential Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja will today give judgment on the disputed presidency.

Three options are open to the tribunal. They may declare President Buhari the winner of the elections, declare Atiku the President or can cancel the election and order a rerun.

Present at the meeting were the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohamed Adamu, the Director general of the Nigerian Intelligence agency, NIA, Ahmed Abubakar, and the National Security Adviser, NSA, Babagana Monguno in the state house.

Tribunals Struggle To Beat Constitutional Deadlines On Election Cases

By

Uche Mbah

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September 11, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

Election Petition Tribunals are dishing out judgements all in a rush to beat the constitutional deadline that requires them to finish all cases within six months of the elections.

The deadline is this September

Within the last one week, judgements are being churned out en mass, with many big names at the receiving end. Jubilation, however, are also part of the game.

For example, while the Senate Chief whip, Orji Kalu, lost his seat, Ike Ekweremadu, immediate past deputy senate President retained his own. In Oyo state, Kola Balogun retains his seat as Ajimobi lost.

Most of these cases are expected to end up at the Supreme Court, which in recent times had tried to elevate some Appeal Court Judges to increase their number to 21. Even with this number, it will be difficult to manage the barrage of cases that will come to the desk of the Supreme Court.

Analysts are seeing the judgement trend as being in line with public expectations, which, according to many, gives some glimmers of hope particularly in the expectations of the Presidential Election Tribunal, which will rule on the Atiku/Buhari case this morning.

It was also pointed out by analysts that regardless of the outcome of the case, whoever lost may appeal to the Supreme court which will be the final arbiter.

There has been much skepticism over the ability of the third estate to hold their own in recent times, judging by alleged intimidation of the judiciary since the inception of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. It started with the way Justice Sylvester Ngwuta was hounded and embarrassed by Security Agencies and charged for corruption, charges that were allegedly not sustained in court. Today, Ngwuta, who was number four in the Chief Justice of the Federation hierarchy, has been quarantined allegedly without being appointed into panels.

But the current CJ, Mohamed Tanko, has assured the nation that he is not going to be influenced by anybody. According to him, the only person he is afraid of is Allah-though in the same breath he lamented the poor funding of the Judiciary.

How Jonathan and I saved Buhari – Adoke, former Attorney General

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The Source

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September 10, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

The President-Goodluck Jonathan government had enough grounds to prosecute President Muhammadu Buhari, then a Presidential candidate, over the killings in parts of the North in 2011 after he lost the Presidential election, but deliberately refused to do so. It also had grounds to disqualify him from contesting the Presidential election in 2015 but, also, refused to do so.

Not prosecuting him was the handiwork of a few people, but mainly, that of Jonathan and his Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Adoke, SAN.

Adoke made the revelations in an unputdownable book he has just written entitled *”Burden of Service: Reminiscences of Nigeria’s former Attorney General”*, billed for presentation to the public shortly.

On the question of Buhari’s cretificates, Adoke disclosed that he was under pressure to prosecute and disqualify him from running, but resisted same, even though the certificate had serious question marks. For not succumbing to the pressure, he said he was dubbed a pro-Buhari, even by some of his colleagues. If he had prosecuted Buhari as canvassed by some top politicians, Buhari would not have contested against Jonathan, which was what those who were putting him under pressure wanted.

Adoke:” Buhari was accused of being in violation of the provisions of sections 131 of the 1999 Constitution on minimum educational qualification and section 31 (3) of the 2010 Electoral Act which required that copies of his school certificate be attatched to the INEC Form CF001

“Buhari did not attatch his certificate. Law suits were filed in court. In all, there were 13 court cases challenging his eligibility, the most prominent being the one filed by a certain Chukwunweike Okafor. Indeed, many private citizens were in court to challenge Gen. Buhari’s eligibility.

“While the controversy was raging, a West African Senior Certificate, WASSC, purportedly issued by the Katsina State Ministry of Education suddenly surfaced on the internet. On the face of it was the picture of a 72-year-old Buhari.

“It was dated 21 January 2015 (meanwhile, Katsina State was created in 1987). The certificate also contained a grading scheme that was not in use in 1962, around the time he was said to have sat for the examination.

” This generated public outrage as people were questioning the authenticity of the certificate, and, whether indeed, Gen. Buhari had the requisite qualification, or had committed forgery. A lot of petitions were sent to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation requesting that Buhari be prosecuted for forgery, and INEC advised to disqualify him.”

If Adoke had approved of Buhari’s prosecution, obviously, there wouldn’t have been a President Buhari today.

He also disclosed that it was Jonathan who deliberately turned a blind eye to prosecuting Buhari after the then Presiential candidate made some inciting statements which resulted in protests and the death of many, including 12 Youth Corps members, when he lost the election to Jonathan in 2011.

Adoke: ” The newly elected Jonathan government was under pressure to arrest and prosecute Buhari. But reasoning that any move against the later, no matter how legal and altruistic, would only lead to more needless deaths, Jonathan refrained from toeing the line.

“Rather, on May 9, 2011, he inaugurated a 22-man Presidential Committee on the 2011 Civil Disturbances to investigate the causes of the post-election violence in parts of the country and forestall a recurrence.

“Although the Committee’s findings did not specifically indict Buhari, the fact that he was associated with the making of ‘inciting political statements’ led to the clamour for his arrest and prosecution over the loss of lives and property that followed the elections.

” Despite the clamour, government refrained from arresting him. Our consideration was the mood of the nation.We noted the bitterness in the core North. President Jonathan decided to cultivate Buhari, given his cult-like followership in his part of the country.

” The strategy was to gain his confidence so that he would rein in his supporters for the necessary conducive atmosphere to govern the country”.

Adoke’s book was published by Clink Street Publishers in London and New York.

He has been on self exile since the advent of the Buhari administration, and has been under the wanted list of the EFCC. He has since been fighting in court to clear his name, pleading persecution which, he said, almost pushed him into committing suicide.

Kogi Election: Tinubu Openly Endorses Bello

By

The Source

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September 10, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

The All Progressives Congress, APC, leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has endorsed the second term bid of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

Bello got this unbelievable endorsement when he visited Tinubu at his Bourdillon home in Ikoyi, Lagos, to commiserate with him over the death of his cousin, Rafiu Tinubu, who died last week.

Bello was said to have used that opportunity to discuss his aspiration with the former governor of Lagos State, seeking his support ahead of the November 16th, 2019 governorship election in Kogi State.

The meeting was said to have lasted for hours, with both men taking pictures, showing their four fingers, indicating that Bello is ruling Kogi State for another four years.

According to sources in the ruling party, Bello had visited Tinubu to plead with him to forgive him and also appease some factions in the APC that are ready to work against him at the polls.

It would be recalled that months back, Tinubu, APC National Chairman, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and the Mandate Group had vowed that Bello will not win the APC ticket. They were, allegedly planning to work against him at the primaries.

It, now seems that all parties have buried their hatchet and are ready to support Bello. But some factions in the Kogi APC are, still, not happy with Bello, prompting him to visit the Tinubu to plead for his assistance in that regard.

Diete-Spiff Tasks FG On Need To Upgrade NYSC Scheme

By

The Source

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September 10, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, and the Amanyanabo of Twon, Brass Kingdom, in Bayelsa State, HRM Alfred Papapereye Diete-Spiff, has tasked the Federal Government to upgrade the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, scheme, in which all youths would be involved and also benefit from the scheme.

Diete-Spiff stressed that as the name implies, ‘National Youth’, all youths should be put into consideration whether you are educated or not, and not ‘Graduate Service’ as is being done now.

He added that there is need for the FG to have a rethink about the scheme, and restructure it in a way that will be beneficial to all youths.

“When you claim a scheme is meant for all youths, why is it that only people that are privileged to attend tertiary institutions are benefitting from it.

“Why are those that are underprivileged neglected. You give the educated youths alone salary for one year, while those that don’t have the opportunities to be educated are not recognised. That’s why we keep having hooligans, touts among the youths, because they are suffering from neglect”.

The Amanyanabo added that the government ought to make a law, and it should be in the Constitution, that every Nigerian that has attained the age of 18 years must go for one year military service.

“This is done in other climes, whereby their youths go for military service just like our own NYSC scheme, and this is done regardless of your educational background, but it’s the law.

“This should be inculcated by the FG so that the government will be fair to every youth”, Diete-Spiff said.