Corp member wey call Tinubu 'terrible president' break any law? - Wetin NYSC Bye-Law tok
Di question on weda corps members fit come out to tok dia mind on di situation of di kontri or not na im dominate tok-tok for Nigeria social media space ova di weekend.
Di mata turn hot debate afta one corps member wey dey serve for Lagos state, Nigeria biggest commercial city, for one video wey don go viral now, lament di high cost of living for di kontri, plus di economic challenge di kontri dey face.
Di corper also for di video condemn President Bola Tinubu administration, as she call di presido "terrible leader".
She also add say Lagos na "smelling state", wey don generate plenty gbasgbos on social media.
Dis her tok don provoke plenty reactions for di kontri as some Nigerians dey of di position say she no get right as corper to openly kick against di goment according to di National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) handbook. Odas dey of di opinion say she get di right to express her grievance as she be Nigerian and she get di right to exercise di freedom of speech as e dey for di Nigeria constitution.
Some pipo also argue say she be employee of di Nigerian goment, therefore, she no get right to chook mouth for wetin dey happun for di kontri. Odas argue say NYSC na para-military, and so, na no go area.
Although di National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) neva comment on di mata, di corper allege say some NYSC officials don call to threaten her sake of wetin she tok.
Wetin di corper tok wey lead to gbasgbos for di kontri
For di video post wey don go viral for social media now, di corps member lament di economic condition of di kontri.
She say prices of food dey go up every week and question wetin goment dey do to reduce di high cost of living. She describe President Tinubu as a "terrible president" sake of di worsening economic palava.
"I just wan tok say our president, I no know if any oda president dey wey terrible pass you. But you be terrible president."
Afta dat video go viral, di corper post anoda video on her TikTok account wia she allege say one NYSC official call and threaten her to delete di video. But she insist say na di truth about di kontri situation she tok.
Di corper post say, "Dear Nigerians, NYSC board don dey threaten me say make I stop to dey tok on dis issue. In less dan 24 hours, goment don already dey threaten me, starting wit di NYSC board!
"Why I no fit speak up? Becos I be NYSC corper no mean say I no get right to complain.
"Why goment no wan listen to di criticisms of dia citizens? Dem believe say dem get chain on me, wey be NYSC, and dem dey use am to hold me. #officialasiwajubat I no do anything wrong. I criticise your goment, and I demand say make dem hear us."
Wetin NYSC law and di Nigerian constitution tok about di mata?
No specific section for di NYSC Bye-Laws outrightly ban corps members from calling out di goment. However, one clause dey, wey indirectly regulate how corps members fit express themselves publicly.
According to Section 3 (i) of di NYSC Bye-Laws Code of Conduct (2011),
"Any member wey address di press on any policy issue without di written consent of di State Coordinator go dey tried by di Camp Court and, if found guilty, e go dey liable to extension of service for thirty (30) days on half pay."
Dis one mean say if any corps member wan make public statement, especially di one wey go criticise goment policies, technically, dem suppose get clearance from NYSC officials first.
Dis na one of di unclear rules wey NYSC officials dey often use to silence corps members wen dem speak out.
However, wetin di bye law possibly dey refer to na official press engagements, wia di corper go follow tori pipo tok, no be di one dem go post on dia personal social media account.
One Human Rights Lawyer, Inibehe Effiong wey chook mouth for dis mata clear am say no provision dey for di NYSC Act wey subject corps members to civil service Rules. "Criticizing di President or di goment no be offence under di NYSC Act (See Section 13). E also no be offence under di NYSC Bye Laws (Section 4 of di Revised Bye Laws, 2011).
Oga Effiong say im don watch all di videos of di lady wey pipo dey debate on top and im no see anytin slightly partisan for her comments.
E say she only express her justified frustrations wit di situation for di kontri, particularly di impact of di inflation on her and oda Nigerians, wey dey within her constitutional right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Section 39 of di Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
Di lawyer also clear am say corps members no be civil servants or public servants. Section 2 of di NYSC Act tok say every eligible Nigerian go dey called-up to serve for a continuous period of one-year national service. Na National Service, no be federal or civil service. Di NYSC na agency of di Federal Government, but corps members no be employees of di federal government or staff of di NYSC.
Also, di Certificate wey corps members dey get afta dem complete dia National Service as prescribed in Section 11 of di NYSC Act na Certificate of National Service, no be certificate of employment. Federal or state goments no dey issue employment letters give corps members.
Amnesty international, odas react
Amnesty International, one ogbonge human rights group for one post on X, tok say di corp member dey perfectly within her right to express her discontent peacefully.
Di rights groups say make authorities prioritize addressing di kontri economic woes instead of her life wey dem dey threaten.
"Make di Nigerian authorities stop to dey respond wit violence and threats to individuals and groups wey express dissenting opinions — in utter disregard for Nigerian constitution and international law. Holding and voicing different views no be crime."
President of di Trade Union Congress (TUC) Festus Osifo, for im reaction tok say di corp member bin tok out of frustration and advise di goment say make dem no go afta her but dey "tolerant of critics."
Oga Osifo wey react on di trending mata on one television programme say goment need to understand say pipo dey para.
"Di goment need to understand say pipo dey frustrated, pipo dey hungry, pipo don tire. So, if dem decide to para, I strongly believe say goment no suppose personalise am and come afta such individuals.
Imagine a young lady wey dey carry out her NYSC function, wetin she really fit do to bring down di goment? Na her personal frustration she air."
One former Nigeria Vice President Atiku Abubakar post say, "I deeply admire her boldness and wisdom—her fearless resolve to speak truth to power, undeterred by di weight of opposition."
E say instead of di hostility wey she don receive, she deserve encouragement and support.
E also be like say human rights activist and presidential candidate for di 2023 general election, Omoyele Sowore, dey rally support for Ms Uguamaye, as e post on X say im go follow her go her NYSC Local Government Inspector office alongside a team of lawyers in case.
Sowore tok say wen dem reach di LGI, no official turn up throughout dia stay.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Focus on Africa Nigeria: What's behind Benue state attacks?
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has ordered security agencies to bring an end to the wave of killings in Benue state. It's believed that more than 200 people were killed in attacks across various communities. What's behind the increase in violence? Also, a young man from the DRC is on the path to sainthood in the Catholic Church. Who was he and what did he do to achieve this? And we discuss the state of the book industry on the continent, following the first ever UNESCO report on the issue, with one of the authors of the report, Elitha van der Sandt and the internationally acclaimed Nigerian author, Lola Shoneyin. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Tom Kavanagh, Sunita Nahar and Wedaeli Chibelushi Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Nigerian president orders crackdown on gangs after 150 killed in conflict-hit north
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday directed security agencies to hunt down the perpetrators of a weekend attack that killed at least 150 people in the country's northcentral, as he faces growing pressure over a worsening security crisis. Tinubu visited Benue state, the site of the recent deadly attacks, seeking to calm tensions and promise justice for the victims. 'We will restore peace, rebuild, and bring the perpetrators to justice. You are not alone.' the Nigerian leader said on X. Assailants stormed Benue state's Yelewata community from Friday night till Saturday morning, opening fire on villagers who were asleep and setting their homes ablaze, survivors and the local farmers union said. Many of those killed were sheltering in a local market after fleeing violence in other parts of the state. Authorities in Benue state blamed herdsmen for the attack, a type of violence frequently seen in northern Nigeria's decadeslong pastoral conflict. Opposition leaders and critics have accused Tinubu of a delayed response to the killings, noting his office issued a statement over 24 hours after the attack. His visit to the state occurred five days later. The Nigerian leader traveled to Makurdi, Benue State's capital, where he visited a hospital to see those injured in the attack and met with local leaders to discuss how to end the killings. He did not visit the Yelewata community. He also appeared to reprimand the police for not making any arrest yet more than four days after the killings. 'How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals,' Tinubu asked as he addressed senior police officers during a gathering in Benue. Analysts blame Nigeria's worsening security crisis on a lack of political will to go after criminals and ensure justice for victims. 'In the end, the result is the same: No justice, no accountability, and no closure for the victims and their communities," said Senator Iroegbu, a security analyst based in Nigeria's capital Abuja. 'Until this changes, impunity will remain the norm, and such tragedies will continue to occur.' ____
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Wetin to expect from President Tinubu visit to Benue state
Nigeria President Bola Tinubu dey expected to arrive Benue state, north-central Nigeria on Wednesday to condole wit pipo of di state afta one deadly attack wey lead to di death ova 100 pipo for Yelewata community for Guma Local Government Area of di state. Di visit dey come for di middle of growing concerns as Nigerians dey worry say security for di region dey worsen. Di presidency for one statement on Monday, 16 June confam say di president Tinubu go "clear im schedule and visit Benue state as part of renewed efforts to foster peace and address di persistent conflict affecting communities for di state." Benue state goment for statement say dem ready gidigba to receive di president as di "visit no only represent a moment of national empathy, but na rare opportunity to directly follow di Presidency tok on urgent security interventions dem need to end di persistent killings and displacement of our pipo". Wetin Tinubu go do for Benue state during im visit Na for di midnight and early morning of Saturday, 14 June, suspected criminal herdsmen according to di state govnor Hyacinth Alia bin attack di community wey lead to di death of more dan 100 pipo die. Di National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) tok say dia early investigation show say more dan 100 pipo kpai for di attack including two sojas and one officer of di Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Di number of pipo wey die fit still go up as di agency say di current figures still dey inconsistent sake of di volatile security situation and limited access to di affected areas. However, e dey expected say di President during im visit go assess first-hand di recurring crisis wey don claim many lives and cause significant destruction. During im stay, President Tinubu go meet wit all stakeholders—including traditional rulers, political, religious, community leaders, and youth groups—to find lasting solutions to di hostilities. E go also hold town hall meeting wit all stakeholders during di visit. In preparation for di visit, President Tinubu don already dispatch di Secretary to di Government of di Federation, di Inspector General of Police, heads of intelligence agencies, di National Security Adviser, plus di Chairmen of di Senate and House Defence Committees go Benue State. SGF, Security Chiefs dey Benue to end killings Ahead of di president visit, di Secretary to di Government of di Federation George Akume wey come from Benue land di state on Tuesday, 17 June. E say im visit di sites of di attacks, meet wit survivors who express dia pains." Di pain dey raw, di sorrow dey deep," Di SGF tok. "For di Market IDP camp, I meet families wey still dey suffer from di loss — displaced, grieving, and living in difficult conditions. Dia resilience moveme deeply. Dis crisis done go on for too long. No one deserve to live in fear or uncertainty for dia own homeland. Dis really hurt". Oga Akume add. Di SGF assure say im no go abandon im own. "I go stand wit you- and we no go rest till our communities dey secure & peace return to our lands," e add. Also, di Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and di Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa bin rush go Yelewata community on Monday to see tins for diasef. Di IGP describe di attack as "senseless and an act of terrorism", and e promise say di Nigeria Police Force do dia best to bring di attackers to justice. Also, di CDS assure di pipo say dis go be di last attack wey go happen for dia community. "We want make dis one be di last one wey go happen. We go go all out to ensure say we address am. We don put measures for oda places and e bin work, so here no go dey different," e tok. "I wan assure Nigerians say no be only Benue State, all ova di kontri, we dey determined, based on di mandate of Mr President, to make sure say we restore peace and tranquillity inside our country, but we need Nigerians to support us."
