FG should make NYSC voluntary, Sani says

Sen. Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna Central) has called on the Federal Government to make the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme voluntary or provide life insurance cover for NYSC members.

Sani made the appeal while speaking to newsmen shortly after he condoled with the family of Lawal Kontagora, a youth corps member allegedly killed by unknown gunmen in Kaduna recently.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Kontagora, 26, an NYSC member, serving at Africdect Information Technology Centre, Kaduna, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Malali area in the metropolis on Oct. 17.

“This is not the first time, it has always been the case, when it happens, we mourn we condemn the action.

“This happened in my constituency and he is part of my constituency. I have a duty to pursue this case to its logical conclusion.

“If such things happen to others and they are being ignored, I virtually will not fold my arms and see this kind of things happen.

“I am taking this issue to the National Assembly; we have to choose what to do and being a corps member.

“It is either the government makes the service year voluntary or there should be increased funding or insurance,’’ he said.

Sani, who condemned the killing, tasked authorities and security agencies in the state to fish out perpetrators of the heinous crime for prosecution to serve as deterrent to others.

He said that Kontagora could not be protected by government from the hands of hoodlums and thugs “clearly shows how vulnerable the society is’’.

“The very fact that we have not inherited a country that could not provide and protect us, shows that we should have been able to do better.

“Our young people are neither safe in primary or secondary schools, nor safe in the university, they are also not safe after the university,’’ Sani lamented.

He said that the state had reached a point where kidnapping was on the increase, mass murder and killing of young people had also become a daily event.

The senator prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and for God to forgive him, and grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

On rape of minors in the country, Sani said that there was a Bill before the National Assembly to address the problem.

“We hope to fast-track most of these bills so that we will have the legislative instrument to tackle problems.

“We cannot run a society, where security is limited to buying bullet proof cars and erecting fences along the streets.

“We must provide security for each and every Nigerian and those involved in the killing of the young man, certainly, we are going to ensure that justice is served.’’

Alhaji Lawal Umar Kontagora, the father of the slain young man, said he was impressed with the Senator’s visit.

“He is our senator and for him to come and condole with us, we are very appreciative.

“I pray justice will be done for the loss of my son because it was a gruesome murder and it is very painful,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna Police Command in the state said it had arrested three suspects in connection with the alleged murder of the Kontagora.

The Police Public Relations Officer for the Command, ASP Aliyu Usman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the police had also commenced investigation into the matter.