American University of Nigeria

The National Youth Service Scheme was established in a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war by decree No.24 of 22nd May 1973. This act stated that the NYSC is being established “with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity”. Organizations nationwide accept youth corps members that make up a very essential part of its skilled workforce.

The American University of Nigeria, just like every other organization in Nigeria, employs youth corps members serving their compulsory National Youth Service in Yola. Corps members are a very important component of the workforce as they bring to our various departments knowledge and skills which help to improve our efficiency.

(image from www.ekitistate.gov.ng)

The National Youth Service Corps Decree 1993

Decree No. 51 now Act of the National Assembly Federal Republic of Nigeria:

Section 12 (1) states:   For the purposes of employment anywhere in the Federation and before employment, it shall be the duty of every prospective employer to demand and obtain from all person who claim to have obtained his first degree at the end of the academic year 1973-74 or, as the case may be, at the end of any subsequent academic year the following:

a)      a copy of the Certificate of National Service of  such person issued pursuant to section 11 of  this Decree;

b)      a copy of any exemption certificate issued to  such person pursuant to section 17 of this  Decree; and

c)       such other particulars relevant thereto as may be prescribed by or under this Decree.

Section 12 (2)  It shall also be the duty of every employer to produce  in demand to Police officer, not below the rank of an Assistant Superintendent of Police, any such certificate and particulars or copies thereof

13. (1) Any person -

a)      who fails to report for service In the service corps in the manner directed by the Directorate or as the case may be, prescribed pursuant to the provisions of this Decree; or

b)      who refuses to make himself available for service in the service corps continuously for the period specified in subsection (2) of this section”

These are the penalties.

Penalties for convening the NYSC Act are varying and extensive but for our purpose, we may focus on section 13(3) (4) and (5). Section 13 (3) which states:

Any person who fails to comply with or who contravenes or causes or aids or abets another to contravene any provision of the Act (not being a provision relations to the calling up of members of the service corps) is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N5,000 or imprisonment for a term of three years or to both such find and imprisonment.

Section 13 (4) Any person who: in giving any information for the purposes of this Act knowing or recklessly makes a statement which is false or forges or uses or lends to or allows to be used other than in the manner provided by this Act by any other person any certificate issued pursuant to the provision of this Act or etc., is guilty of an offence and liable an conviction to a fine of N5,000 or to imprisonment for a term of three years or to both such fine and imprisonment

Section 13 (5) states: where an offence under subjection 3 of this section which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of or to be attributed to any neglect on the part of any Director, Manager, Secretary of the Corporate Body or any person purporting to act in such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be prosecuted against and punished accordingly.