The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has described as misleading and erroneous, reports that it issued a query to about 200 corps members serving at the Atiba Local Government Area of Oyo State, for not participating in a Christmas Carol Party.
In a statement signed by the state’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, said that the corps members were queried because they did not participate in their scheduled Community Development Service(CDS) activities.
The statement further clarified that the weekly CDS and the monthly General Community Development Service (GCDS) are part of the core activities that all corps members must partake in throughout their service year, without which they are not qualified to collect their Certificate of National Service.
The Scheme also stated that the corps members were also absent during the December 2024 headcount conducted to ascertain the number of corps members on the ground in Atiba.
“For the purpose of clarity, the affected corps members in Atiba did not participate in their scheduled Community Development Service activities and were also absent during the December 2024 headcount conducted to ascertain the number of corps members on the ground in Atiba.
“Furthermore, they were also not in their respective places of primary assignment within the Local Government during the period in question.
“Disturbingly, they all failed to obtain written permission from the NYSC Oyo State Coordinator to travel outside the state between December 16, 2024, and January 6, 2025.
“The queries issued to them by the Local Government Inspector serve as a corrective mechanism within the Scheme and have nothing to do with the alleged Christmas Carol.
“As a matter of fact, the National Youth Service Corps, as a responsible organization, operates within the confines of its Bye-Laws, which not only guide the activities of all corps members but also stipulate penalties for various offences.”
The Scheme emphasised that every corps member is at liberty to practice any religion of their choice, as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, without coercion.
The statement also reiterated the Scheme’s open-door policy for maintaining good media relations with the press, urging journalists to ensure balanced reportage of NYSC activities and programs instead of publishing unverified and misleading information.
It urged members of the public to disregard the online publication as it was erroneous and intended to cause unnecessary religious apprehension.