Certificate Forgery: Group commends NYSC’s integrity

A group, the Save Nigeria Movement, SNM, has commended the management of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC for maintaining its integrity posture despite manipulations against it by some politicians.

The SNM, led by Solomon Semaka, while briefing newsmen in Abuja, cautioned Enugu Governor-elect, Peter Mbah, against tarnishing the image of the NYSC.

Mr Mbah is in battle with the NYSC over the status of his NYSC certificate.

“It is true that sometimes, in 2003, Mr Peter Mbah was actually mobilized to partake in the one year mandatory national service as required.

• Juventus finally lose 10 points as penalty
• NAHCON Makes U-Turn, asks pilgrims to pay 40% of $250 increase

“He indeed participated in the orientation course and was ready and expected to go a full one year on the NYSC mandatory service as everyone else during his batch did.

“But for whatever reason, Mr Peter Mbah, who studied law at his undergraduate days, opted to proceed to law school.

“Fellow Nigerians, Mr Peter Mbah left to attend Law School and never returned to complete his one year mandatory service with the NYSC.

“He never came back. It is equally pertinent to point out that there is no room for Corps members to break service in the NYSC books. Those he left behind for the same batch who completed their service have all gotten their certificates and can be verified at the NYSC headquarters.

“The serial number of certificates of people who served with him and who appeared with him for that batch has to tally. Unfortunately, because he never came back to complete his service, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) under the current management could not validate the purported certificate and the number in question.

“According to the director general’s report in the media, Mr Peter Mbah actually visited the scheme, and the position was relayed to him as it was on records of the scheme.

“The future of Nigeria and any nation at all lies in the integrity, sanctity, and strength of her institutions. It is our duty as individuals and corporate citizens to protect the sanctity of these institutions and other structures of state on the principle of justice and truth.

“It is, therefore, based on this premise and in keeping with our mandate of upholding good governance in a bid to rescue Nigeria from lawlessness that we gather you here today.

“Our aim here today is simply to uncover and expose the crude tactics and plans by desperate and unscrupulous politicians to cause distraction and in the process evade shame and perhaps justice by dragging the impeccable reputation and good image of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), its Director General (DG) and other directors in the mud.

“The NYSC has distinguished itself as one of the most consistent and impactful institutions since its establishment 50 years ago. There has hardly been any scandal associated with the Scheme regarding the security and authenticity of her certificates.

“If you participate in the one-year scheme in the appropriate manner, you will like any other Nigerian have your genuine certificate issued by the scheme without any need for further authentication.”