The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has divulged the startling details of how an undercover reporter managed to enlist in the scheme twice, unraveling the security loopholes exploited.
In a Channels Television program, Mr. Eddy Megwa, the Director of Public Affairs for NYSC, revealed that the reporter, initially barred due to prior service in 2019, ingeniously manipulated the system by altering his contact details.
This manipulation granted him acceptance into the program, initially posting him to Osun State.
“It is not that we don’t have checks and balances in place to detect possible breaches of the system. When the undercover reporter first put in his data, the system rejected him because he had served in the scheme before.
”He later changed his email address and his phone number which made the system to accept him. And he was initially posted to Osun State
“He did that because he was out for a particular purpose. We are looking at the situation and ensure that it does not happen again.
”We don’t have a database of graduates to serve in the scheme. We only rely on the lists sent to us by the senator of the various universities, stating the number of graduates to expect from them,” he explained.
While admitting the existence of security checks, Megwa assured corrective measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Despite incorporating the National Identification Number (NIN) into the scheme three years ago, he could not explain the oversight regarding discrepancies between the reporter’s NIN data and his second application.
When queried about assessing foreign certificates, Megwa asserted that it was not NYSC’s responsibility but hinted at measures involving tests to evaluate foreign students’ proficiency, revealing surprising discoveries in their abilities.
“It is not our duty to assess their certificates, but we have resorted to inviting foreign students and giving them test to know their abilities.
” In the course of doing that, we have made startling discoveries. Ask some of them to write a simple essay, you will be surprised at what you get. I have some of such materials that I can show you.”
Emphasizing NYSC’s elite status, Megwa recalled an incident from 2006, where an individual’s inclusion, exposed through the then-DG’s investigation, underscored the scheme’s diligence.
He further stated that the collaboration with relevant ministries aims to monitor students pursuing foreign studies and validate their credentials upon their return.
