offends the United Nations Convention


[b]
Nigeria: Unemployed Graduates Sue Jonathan, Army Council

Adelanwa Bamgboye

Some unemployed graduates from the Nigerian Army Military School, Zaria, have dragged President Goodluck Jonathan and the Nigerian Army Council (NAC) to court, challenging their plans to "demilitarize" the school.

An alumnus of the school, Ayuba Abdul, who filed a suit at the Federal High Court Abuja on behalf of others, alleged that the army council had concluded plans to remove military training from the school curricular on the ground that it offends the United Nations Convention on Child's Rights.

In a 25-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion, the plaintiff said, "This was evident as the last batch of boys who passed out from the institution on August 6, 2011 are yet to be posted to their units".

This, according to the plaintiff, negates the essence of establishing the institution which is to provide skilled manpower for the Nigerian Army, adding that the Federal Government's policy seeks to defeat section 220 of the 1999 constitution and aggravate youth unemployment in the country.

Those named as defendants include President Goodluck Jonathan, the Chief of Army Staff, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Nigerian Army Council and the Nigerian Army.

No date has been fixed for hearing.[/b]