National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has asked members of the association to join the nationwide protest slated for tomorrow, June 12 in honour of students of Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Kaduna state, abducted by bandits.

Some gunmen had on Thursday night invaded the institution in the Zaria Local Government Area of the state, abducting eight students and two lecturers. 

The abducted lecturers are identified as Habila Nasai from the General Studies Department and Adamu Shehu Shika from the Accounting Department.

Speaking to SaharaReporters on Friday, NAPS Vice President, National Affairs, Olalekan Olayinka Ayeni urged students to ignore a statement credited to the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Sunday Asefon and participate in the planned protest.

“It’s so sad that Asefon could call for the cancellation of the planned June 12 protest against insecurity in the country a day after some of our colleagues in Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic were abducted.

“We hereby called on Nigerian students to participate fully in the planned rally in honour of our colleagues who are still in captivity.”

Civil society organisations and human rights activists have called for a nationwide protest on June 12 against the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

According to some publicity posters, the protest will make 14 critical demands which are: Abolish 1999 constitution, End terrorism, End banditry, Isa Pantami must go (Minister of Communications and Digital Economy who expressed sympathy for terrorists), Free all detained activists, End insecurity, Justice for all EndSARS victims, Free Kogi2 (Two anti-President Muhammadu Buhari protesters – Larry Emmanuel and Victor Anene Udoka – who are being detained in Kogi State), Buhari Must Go, Revert electricity tariffs, End ASUP (Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics) strike, Revert fuel price, Revert party deregistration, and Free Nicholas Mbah.

 House of Representatives Committee on Youths has said there is no plan to scrap the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).

The chairman of the committee, Yemi Adaramodu, stated this in Abuja at an event on Thursday. 

Recently, there have been debates in the national discourse about the relevance ofnthe scheme and it should be scrapped. 

The scheme was set up by the Nigerian government in 1973 after the civil war to involve Nigerian graduates. The purpose of the one-year programme is to foster national unity. 

A bill sponsored by Awaji-Inombek Abiante, which had scaled the second reading at the House of Representatives, questioned the relevance of the scheme at this period and called for its scrapping.

However, Adaramodu on Thursday said: “Anybody is free to sponsor a bill, but the Speaker and the rest of the House believe that the scheme has come to stay in Nigeria.

“The scheme is going nowhere and it is not the plan of the National Assembly to scrap it. I want to let you know that we’re with you and for you. We’re fully with you, we’re together.”

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule said there was no reason to abolish the NYSC, stressing that “just as there’s no price for security, there is also no price for unity, and the NYSC defines the unity of Nigeria”. 

A former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), said the NYSC had exposed corps members to life-changing opportunities and impacted the nation positively, according to Daily Trust. 

Gowon called on the Federal Government to think of ways to strengthen the scheme with funds.

He commended the NYSC for putting together works and data about the scheme as literature to enable the public read and have knowledge about it.

NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, said the scheme was m the most successful national programme established to address basic challenges that usually confront a developing nation and diverse society such as Nigeria.