In
recent time, the calls and wakes of the need to serve Nigeria under the one
year compulsory service mandated under the enabling Act had jostle with the
recent realities of sacks, resignations and disqualifications (among others) of
erring Nigerians who became graduates at and/or before Thirty but failed to
participate in the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) scheme at all spheres
of our economy and national life.
The
mandatory service is ensured by several codes and ethics that guides the
program; which violations attracts penalties, ranging from extension of
service year, deferment of service, termination of service year and prosecution amidst other
disciplinary actions which could be taken by the designated and/or empowered officials of the
Scheme.
David
Adedeji Adeleke, Davido as popularly called recently put in for the mandatory NYSC program sequel to his graduation from the University before the age of thirty.
Consequently, he was mobilized to the Iyana Ipaja, Lagos Orientation Camp of
the Scheme and ever since then, the story HAD BEEN OF the path of a shadow.
Davido
is widely acknowledged and popular both home and abroad. And he is in no small measure
classified under the privileged few as Very Important Person (VIP) made before
time. His background and achievements all through the time had foisted on him
some irreconcilable responsibilities that makes it very difficult for him to
abide by the codes of conduct and rules of the NYSC.
That
said, could we conclude that the George Orwell’s view about the society by his book
‘Animal farm’ is in play? Whence, he said by several allegorical syllogism: “All
animals are equal but some are more equal than the other”. In other words, it
seems we are all equal before the law but some are more equal than others. The question is; is Davido above all other Corps members currently
participating in the program to the extent that he cannot be sanctioned, queried
and/or at least cautioned if found wanting?
In
recent time, mixed reactions had trailed Davido’s failure to fully observe the
rules and code of conducts attached to the one year compulsory service. Davido,
26, was one of the 2,152 Batch ‘B’ Stream II corps members sworn-in at the NYSC
orientation camp at Iyana Ipaja in August, 2018. Ever since, he put in for the program, keeping to her rules and regulations had been the case of an arrow shot at a rock; for it is easier for the
camel to pass through the needle’s eye than for Davido to fully cope in respect
of the Rules and regulations guiding the program.
Hence,
since Davido joined the Scheme, the Following are the NYSC Rules of engagement
broken by him in recent time:
- Davido brought into the Orientation camp a chauffeur Driven White exotic car and drove amidst fanfares among other corps members and obviously protected by security guides.
- Davido left the Orientation camp and never participated in the activities of NYSC at the camp.
- Earlier this year, the Pop star jetted out of the country some days during the orientation camp to Boston in United States ahead of his ‘Locked Up’ Concert. Afterward, he performed at the opening day of Jay-Z’s Made in America Festival in Philadelphia, United States. We were not told if he returned to the camp thereafter.
- Davido Primary Place of Assignment is unknown.
- We are not sure if Davido ever reported promptly to his Primary place of Assignment or participates in activities of secondary place of assignment.
- Davido had been engaged in his private practice as a musician.
- Davido fully participated in politics of Osun State, psrticularly, the just concluded gubernatorial election.
It
will interest you that all the above supposed offences by Davido carries both
light and heavy penalties if some of the offences considered as reconcilable
are not met with the attached condition precedents.
By
my findings, the ‘IF’ crooner, pop superstar and Chioma ‘death sentenced’ lover
may just have broken Section 3(I)(15) of the NYSC Bye-Laws (18/19), Section
3(III)(2, 3, 5 6, 7,12, 14)) of the NYSC Bye-Laws (18/19), Section 4(9) of the
NYSC Bye-Laws (18/19) among others. The Bye laws are issued annually since 1993.
For
ease of reference, I hereunder reproduce the contents of the above cited
sections of the Bye Laws which Davido have and/or might have broken as follows:
Section 3(I)(15) of the Bye laws provides as follows:
During
the Period of orientation, every member shall not
bring vehicles or motorcycles into the orientation camp.
- Any member who brings vehicles or
motorcycles to camp shall not be registered, and if already registered,
shall be decamped
- ii)
Such member shall only be allowed to return to service to join the next
batch in the orientation camp.
Section
3(III)(2, 3, 5 6, 7,12, 14) of the NYSC Bye-Laws (1993) Provides as follows:
During the Period of Primary
Assignment, every member shall:
- 2. Not be late to report at duty station
Any member who reports late at
duty station shall be tried by the Corps Disciplinary Committee and if found
guilty, be liable to extension of service on half pay double the period he is
late to station. Any member who reports late at duty station shall be tried by
the Corps Disciplinary Committee and if found guilty, be liable to extension of
service on half pay double the period he is late to station
- 3. Not fail to report to duty punctually.
o Any
member who reports late for duty shall be queried by his employer and the
report sent to the State Coordinator for disciplinary action
- 5. Not fail to carry out duties diligently
Any member who fails to carry out
his duties diligently shall be queried by his employer and the report sent to the
State Coordinator for disciplinary action.
- 6. leave his duty station or absent himself from any official activity without the written consent of the State Coordinator.
Any member who leaves his duty
station or absents himself from any official activity without the permission of
the State Coordinator shall be tried by the Corps Disciplinary Committee and,
if found guilty, be liable to extension of service with half pay double the
period of absence.
- 7. Not travel outside the State without written permission of the State Coordinator
Any member who travels outside the
State without the written permission of the State Coordinator shall be tried by
the Corps Disciplinary Committee and, if found guilty, be liable to forfeiture
of allowance for the number of days absent and extension of service with half
pay double the period of absence
- 12. Not engage in private practice
Any member who engages in private
practice shall be tried by the Corps Disciplinary Committee and, if found
guilty, be liable on conviction to extension of service for a period not less
than twenty one (21) days without pay
- 14. Not travel outside Nigeria without the written permission of the Director-General
Any member who travels outside
Nigeria without the written permission of the Director-General shall be tried
by the Corps Disciplinary Committee and, if found guilty, be liable to
extension of service without pay double the period of absence
Section 4(9) of the NYSC Bye-Laws (1993) Provides as follows:
Every member shall Not take part in partisan politics.
- Any
member who takes part in partisan politics is liable to extension of
service for a period not less than three (3) months without pay.
From the above cited provisions of
the NYSC bye-Laws, it is of common knowledge that Davido has breached almost all
parts of the enabling laws and Rules that guides the Scheme, Hence:
1. Davido
brought in Vehicle into the NYSC orientation camp
2. Davido
left the NYSC orientation camp.
3. Davido
Travelled outside Nigeria
4. Davido
engaged in his private business as a musician
5. Davido
Participated in politics and fully campaigned for his uncle, Ademola Adeleke in
Osun State gubernatorial Election.
6. All
those period of campaigns and traveling, Davido must have been absent from his Primary Place of Assignment.
7. No one
seems to know where Davido is teaching or where his PPA is located
The big question is, if
Davido is taking permission for all his engagements, how much permission can he
take during his continuous participation in the schemes? By section 6(2) of the
enabling law, Davido cannot get more than 14 days leave of absence during the
entire program.
Davido went too far when
he started to flamboyantly wear PDP dresses and campaign from town to town for
his uncle, Ademola Adeleke, despite being a corps member in active service.
Despite all the breaches, ther is no record that
Davido had been queried, sanctioned, brought before a court, suspended and or
cautioned in any way by the authorities of the National Youths Service Corps.
Could it be that Davido is
above the law or above all other corps members? The Lagos State NYSC coordinator and the Director General of the
Program owes Nigerians some explanations.
Richarmond O. Natha-Alade is the Principal Partner of,
Sun Natha-Alade & Partners (SNATHAP)
lordricharmond@gmail.com
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