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Northern Representatives Oppose The Voluntary NYSC Participation Bill

The House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected a bill that sought to make the mandatory one-year national youth service requirement for graduates under 30 optional, among other changes to the National Youth Service Corps Act. The bill, which also sought to increase compensation for NYSC participants and make a Certificate of Exemption optional for graduates aged 30 and above, failed to pass second reading due to fierce opposition, particularly from Northern members of the House.

Deputy Speaker Ahmed Wase (Plateau), Majority Whip Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Ahmad Jaha (Borno), and Leke Abejide (Kogi), among others, have all voiced opposition to the bill. The legislation is titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Youth Service Corps Act, Cap. N84 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Review Upward the Accommodation and Transport Allowances of Corps Members in Line with Current Realities; and for Related Matters.”

Messrs Eta Mbora, Abass Adigun, Ben Igbakapa, Moshood Akinolu, and Oluyemi Taiwo are the joint sponsors of the bill, which was created by combining their bills Nos. 716, 1305, 1657, 1922, 1945, and 1674. Igbakpa, who guided the discussion during the bill’s second reading on Tuesday, pointed out that since the law is founded on the “changing realities of time,” the modification aims to accomplish three different goals.

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