The Enugu Good Governance Group (E-3G), a civil society organization, has called for the immediate resignation of the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed, and the Director of Corps Certification, Mohamad Ibrahim.
The demand comes in the wake of the misrepresentation of facts that led to the Governor Peter Mbah certificate controversy.
In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Comrade Odinaka Okechukwu, the E-3G expressed concern over the recklessness and ineptitude of government functionaries, leading to skyrocketing judgment debts.
The group emphasized that heads of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) should be held accountable for such penalties to deter future occurrences.
The call for resignations follows the recent judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, absolving Governor Mbah of certificate forgery charges. The court also awarded N5 million damages to him against the NYSC.
The E-3G hailed the verdict as a victory for democracy, highlighting that it exposed the ineptitude, collusion, conspiracy, politicization, recklessness, and impunity within public institutions.
The group criticized NYSC’s admission that it had reinstated Mbah but claimed it lacked records of his remaining service months. E-3G pointed out that Mbah’s place of primary assignment had provided clearance letters, indicating that he had served the remaining months, and even received monthly allowances.
They condemned NYSC’s loss of Mbah’s file and the inability to account for Mbah’s certificates.
In addition to demanding the immediate resignations of NYSC officials, the E-3G called for legal reforms.
They advocated for placing the burden of judgment fees, wholly or partly, on MDAs and senior officials responsible for such infractions.
The group suggested tying these fees to the salaries and retirement benefits of the officials involved, ensuring a lasting deterrent against incompetence and misconduct.
The E-3G concluded by emphasizing the need for accountability, integrity, and transparency within public institutions to safeguard the interests of the citizens and uphold the principles of justice and fairness.
