Storytimes Newspapers

  The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has strongly dismissed as false and misleading a viral report claiming that the scheme exposes corps members to banditry and operates a "ransom clause" that shifts responsibility for kidnapping ransoms to families. In an official statement, the NYSC management reacted to the alarmist write-up titled “Urgent: The NYSC Death Trap, Our Graduates Are Being Sold to Bandits.” The scheme described the publication as lacking journalistic balance, failing to seek its side of the story, and capable of inciting fear while undermining public confidence in the national service programme. Key Denials from NYSC No 'Ransom Clause' Exists: “For the avoidance of doubt, the National Youth Service Corps categorically states that there is no provision whatsoever for any ‘ransom clause’ in the NYSC Act, Bye-laws, or any official publication of the Scheme. This claim is entirely fictitious and should be disregarded in its entirety.”ecac5e No Policy ...

  Olalekan was taken into custody at the Ogun State Police Command headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta. A police source confirmed the arrest, stating: “He is in our custody at the command’s headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.” The source further alleged that the NYSC official may have been romantically involved with the deceased corps member—a relationship described as inappropriate given his supervisory role over corps members in his jurisdiction. This has raised serious questions about abuse of power and ethical conduct within the NYSC framework. The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed that the case is under active investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). However, he declined to provide further details on the arrest or the official's specific alleged role, noting that inquiries are ongoing. The development has sparked widespread concern among corps members, NYSC stakeholders, and the public, highlighting recurring issue...

  He emphasized that Abia State upholds a tradition of rewarding excellence, urging the approximately 1,820 corps members to make the most of their service by being industrious, integrating into host communities, and driving meaningful development. Otti described the NYSC as a platform for personal growth, networking, and national unity, warning that failing to seize these opportunities would amount to shortchanging oneself. This promise aligns with the governor's prior actions, such as granting automatic employment in September 2025 to nine ex-corps members of Abia origin who earned Presidential NYSC Honour Awards for exceptional service (many in states far from the South-East). Those appointments were issued without interviews, alongside cash rewards, demonstrating the administration's commitment to merit-based recognition. The initiative is part of broader support for NYSC in Abia, including infrastructure improvements at the orientation camp (e.g., solar-powered street ligh...