Lawyer Threatens To Sue NYSC Over Posting Of Corps Members Outside States of Residence

A human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, has threatened to institute legal proceedings against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) over its policy of posting corps members to states outside their states of residence, citing worsening insecurity across the country.

Ogun argued that the continued deployment of young graduates to unfamiliar and often volatile parts of the country exposes them to avoidable risks, including abduction, attacks and death.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, the lawyer described the practice as unconstitutional, insisting that it potentially violates the right to life guaranteed under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution.

“It is unconstitutional for NYSC to continue dispatching young people on a journey of no return. It potentially violates the right to life guaranteed under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution,” he said.

According to him, the deteriorating security situation in many parts of Nigeria has made the scheme increasingly dangerous for corps members who are often posted far from their families and support networks.

“With the spate of insecurity in every corner of Nigeria, posting corpers to states other than their states of residence is tantamount to signing their death warrants while still alive,” Ogun stated.

The lawyer disclosed that he is considering approaching a court in the coming weeks to challenge what he described as a continuous violation of the rights of corps members.

“In the coming weeks, I may be compelled to approach a court of competent jurisdiction to challenge this continuous violation of human rights,” he said.

Ogun further vowed to document cases of corps members who have been killed, kidnapped or subjected to other security threats while serving under the NYSC scheme, maintaining that many of the incidents could have been prevented.

“I will chronicle the number of corpers deaths and abductions experienced owing to insecurity in this country. The killings are avoidable and the NYSC programme must stop altogether till the country is safe,” he added.

While stressing that his planned legal action is motivated by concerns for the safety of Nigerian youths, Ogun noted that he had personally participated in the scheme years ago and understands the challenges faced by corps members.

“Now, the suit is not just about me. I have served this country in khaki some years ago. My fight for corpers is more about the future of this country and the sanctity of human life,” he said.

His planned legal action has reignited concerns over the safety of corps members serving in parts of the country affected by insecurity. In recent time, many of the young graduates have been abducted by gunmen or killed in road crash on their ways to their states of deployment.

While the NYSC is yet to respond to the lawyer’s threat of legal action, its management has repeatedly warned corps members against night journey.