N 4,000 NYSC fee: Reps has betrayed Nigerian youths – Group

From Akilani Abdullah and Alice Ajakaye, Lagos.

A youth political pressure group, Advocates for Collective Transformation (ACT) has described the endorsement of 4000 online registration fee for NYSC mobilization by the House of Representative as a misrepresentation and betrayal of Nigerian youths.

ACT, in a statement signed by its President, Tayo Fashogbon and National Secretary, Isaac Ifetoluwa Ajayi described the endorsement by the House Committee on Youth Development Chairman, Hon Kamil Akinlabi, despite public outcry against the fee as ‘evil endorsement of oppression’ of young people in the country.

The group said the action signals that youths cannot be assured of quality representation from its elected lawmakers.

The group said young people in the country are at greater risk with leaders like Hon Akinlabi representing Nigerian youth interests at the legislative chamber.

“Hon. Akinlabi and his committee has swallowed the NYSC pill to extort fresh Nigerian graduates, we wonder how it taste in their mouths. If Nigerian youths cannot be assured of quality representation from its elected lawmakers, our future is at greater risk.

“Representatives, like Hon Akinlabi and his committee members, have failed promising young Nigerians who deserve better representation at decision making process at all level of governance”.

The group called on the House Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tanbuwal to immediately disband the Committee on Youth for falling to protect the interest of young Nigerians.

The group insisted that it’s unfair, wicked and satanic to monetize any process of the NYSC scheme, saying there is no justification for the fee.

The youth group added that arguments that the fee charged is to provide technology at all NYSC offices across the country lacks merit, saying the NYSC has been running for more than 40 years without charging any corps member for money and the scheme has not collapsed.

It maintained that the government has not said it is broke to fund the scheme, noting that the scheme stills takes more than 70 percent of money allotted to the Ministry of Youths.

“We also call for immediate suspension of this fraudulent extortion of helpless and jobless fresh graduates who are eager to serve their fathers land. We called on President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately stop the online fee and ensure all prospective corps members who have been defrauded in this process are refunded back their parent’s hard earned money.”