Nigerians need more education on some issues, especially the current issue on the female NYSC Member who got threatened for criticizing Tinubu.
This issue of NYSC officials calling Raye, the embattled corps member to threaten her has raised a lot of dust with many persons misunderstanding the RULE BOOK OF NYSC.
Someone wrote this for Raye : “Baby girl, you are currently a staff of the federal government, and on the basis of that, you can’t openly criticise the government.” Read your handbook…..
Are corps members actually staff of the Federal Government?
Are they obliged not to offer critical judgement of the Federal Government?
Human rights lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong took his time to analyze NYSC rules and how it affects corps members….
“Look for the revised edition of the NYSC Bye Laws. You can download the extant Bye Laws on the NYSC website.
What someone posted under the comment section of your post should be from the outdated edition.
You people are defending madness in the name of supporting a terrible regime.
First, corps members are not civil servants or public servants. Section 2 of the NYSC Act states that every eligible Nigerian shall be called-up to serve for a continuous period of one year national service. It is National Service, not federal or civil service.
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The NYSC is an agency of the Federal Government, but corps members are not employees of the federal government or staff of the NYSC. Corps members are not employed or recruited into the NYSC.
Second, the Certificate that is issued to corps members on completion of their National Service as prescribed in Section 11 of the NYSC Act is called Certificate of National Service, not certificate of employment. Corps members are not issued employment letters by the Federal or State Governments.
Third, every employee under the law (including the Labour Act, Employees Compensation Act, etc.) is entitled to be paid salary. That is the legal consideration for the services rendered.
Corps members are not paid salaries by the government (Federal and State). They are only paid paltry sums as allowances. Some States do not even pay allowances to corps members.
Fourth, the term employer as used in the NYSC Act is used loosely in relation to the Place of Primary Assignment where the corps member is posted to. Employers under the NYSC Bye Laws are only required to issue Letters of Acceptance to corps members posted to them, not letters of employment.
Fifth, there is nothing in the objectives of the Corps or scheme as enumerated in Section 1 of the NYSC Act that remotely supports the view that corps members are employees in the legal sense.
The NYSC was established by the military as a fallout of the civil war to promote national unity and interrelationship among Nigerians of different ethnic backgrounds.
Sixth, there is no provision in the NYSC Act that subjects corps members to civil service Rules.
Criticizing the President or the government is not an offence under the NYSC Act (See Section 13). It is also not an offence under the NYSC Bye Laws (See Section 4 of the Revised Bye Laws, 2011).
Seventh, I have watched all the videos of this lady that are being debated. There is nothing slightly partisan in her comments.
She merely expressed her justified frustrations with the state of affairs in the country, particularly the impact of the scourging inflation on her and other Nigerians. That is within her constitutional right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
I am in contact with the lady, we will ensure that her rights are protected if the need arises.
By the way, I entirely agree with her view that Tinubu is a TERRIBLE President.
I have attached some relevant Section of the NYSC Act on the objectives of the scheme and the provisions of the current Bye Laws relating to offences and penalties…. ”
Meanwhile,” Tyrants hate those who stand up against them. Despite their threats on the call they ran away when Nigerians stood up for the corper. Our government will do the request of the citizens when we begin to speak for our rights and demand accountability. Kudos to everyone who stood up… “
This rule that denies the Nigerian his or her rights to freely air their mind is one the foolish rules that need to be thrown away. Those who draft rules that enslave are not true democrats and need to get out of government institutions.