OPEN LETTER TO THE NYSC DIRECTOR GENERAL

ATTN: Brigadier General Johnson Olawunmi

Dear Sir,

SUSPECTED CASE OF GROSS FINANCIAL FRAUD ON OUTGOING BATCH ‘C’ CORPS MEMBERS BY NYSC OFFICIALS IN BENUE STATE OF NIGERIA

Sir, we humbly bring to the notice of your highly esteemed office, the above subject matter.

We were cajoled into paying N1,000 (One Thousand Naira Only) for an expired loan form from NYSC, Benue State Secretariat.

On the 30th September, 2015, the LGI sent text messages to all applicants to come for their intent form. At the secretariat, he said, “Upon completion of your forms, proceed to the Schedule Officer at the State secretariat, Makurdi, with your business plan and your original receipts for defence from today till latest Friday 9th October, 2015”.

Regrettably heartbreaking sir, when most corps members took the risk of exposing themselves to the dangers of the road as well as spending their little allowance to get to Makurdi on Friday 2nd October, 2015, we were astonished to hear that the said loan had expired over a month ago, we then went to our LGI on Monday 5th October, 2015 who showed us documents indicating remittance of money collected to the Benue state NYSC Secretariat and referred us back to Makurdi.

This is a suspected extortion which contravenes Section 419 of the Nigerian constitution as amended (obtaining money under false pretence).

Sir, the big question is- How long shall these feverish birds tremble in silence before their keepers? A lot has happened in Benue state which we may not bore you with for now but the secretariat has refused to acknowledge the fact that it is dealing with intelligent, energetic and educated youth who are very vibrant in the pursuit of their rights.

The Director General may also wish to note the following:

That those in Makurdi and some other local governments in Benue state were compelled to pay N1,500 (One Thousand and Five Hundred Naira Only) for the said loan form and they were asked to pay additional N5,000 (Five Thousand Naira Only) to guarantee their chances of benefiting from the loan.

That the 2 days second INEC training allowance (N3,000) on the 20th and 21st of March, 2015 was not paid in Benue as against other states of Nigeria.

That the 2014/2015 Batch ‘A’ corps members who participated in the INEC first 3-days training of 6th–8th February, 2015 were not also paid their N4,500 training allowance.

That some outgoing Batch ‘C’ corps members who participated in all the electoral processes are not yet paid even after several complaints.

That until this October 5 payment, N105 (One Hundred and Five Naira only) has been deducted from the allowances of all Batch ‘C’ corps members in Benue state since we left orientation camp in November, 2014.

That, some outgoing corps members who have been afflicted with one ailment or the other and had gone for surgical operations during their service year and have written the NYSC for refund of their incurred medical expenses, are yet to get any favourable response(s) from the NYSC.

That all the outgoing Batch 'C' corps members are mandated to pay N1,000 each for P.O.P magazine which may not capture all the Batch 'C' corps members and which might not be sufficient for all outgoing corps members as was the case of last Batch 'B' corps members.

We therefore resolve in one accord to bring to your table, the aforementioned issues with hope that the Director General, will in his magnanimity, look into the above raised issues vis-a-vis proffering lasting solutions that will put smiles on the faces of the outgoing corps members and prevent reoccurrence.

Thanking you in anxious anticipation of your favourable, fatherly and prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

SIGNED
Funke Williams
For outgoing Batch ‘C’ Corps members, Benue state.

Nice writeup