8 offences that can land someone in jail under the NYSC Act

The resignation of Nigeria’s Minister of Finance as a result of the controversy surrounding her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate has put the  NYSC  Act on the spotlight.

Courtroom Mail in refreshing our memories has published this article in plain language to accommodate every reader.

1. Any person who fails to report for service or refuses to make himself available for service in service corps as prescribed by the Act or as directed by the NYSC directorate is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N2000 or to imprisonment for a term of twelve months or to both fine and imprisonment. This applies to people who are qualified to serve.
2. Any person who is not eligible to participate in service corps who participates or attempts to participate is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N4000 or to imprisonment for a term of two years or to both fine and imprisonment. So when you take your fake studentship to NYSC to continue your deceit that you are a graduate, Courtroom Mail warns that jail awaits you.
3. Courtroom Mail understands that the hardship that may hit your jobless life soon after your service may start giving you some ideas and one of those ideas may be to go back to NYSC and do it again. This will at least guarantee you some monthly stipends. When the idea comes, note that the law says that any person who has previously served or issued a certificate of exemption cannot go back to serve again or attempt to serve. If you do that you will be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N4000 or to imprisonment for a term of two years or to both fine and imprisonment.
4. For those employers who do not ask for NYSC certificate, this is for you. Courtroom Mail seeks to inform you that Section 12 of NYSC Act provides that for the purpose of employment anywhere in Nigeria and before employment, every prospective employer must as a duty demand and obtain from any person who claims to have obtained his degree (from 1973/74 academic year until now) a copy of the NYSC certificate or discharge certificate issued. It says also that a police officer can demand for it from an employer and the employer as a matter of duty must produce it on demand. Section 13(3) says that any person who fails to comply with, contravenes, aids or abets any provision of the NYSC Act is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N5000 or to imprisonment for a term of three years or to both fine and imprisonment.
5. Any person in giving information for the purposes of this Act knowingly or recklessly makes a statement which is false is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N5000 or to imprisonment for a term of three years or to both fine and imprisonment.                                                                                                                              Premium Content: If you see this clause in your tenancy agreement, please don’t sign
6. Any person who forges or uses or lends to or allows to be used any NYSC certificate in any other way contrary to the NYSC Act is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N5000 or to imprisonment for a term of three years or to both fine and imprisonment. Courtroom Mail is letting you know that it does not matter if you are a Minister of Finance or a contract staff, if you forge your NYSC Certificate or exemption certificate or lends it to a friend to use , you will go to jail.
7. Any person who makes or has in his possession any document so closely resembling any the NYSC or Exemption certificate so issued intending to deceive is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N5000 or to imprisonment for a term of three years or to both fine and imprisonment.                                                                                                                                                                            Searching for a lawyer? Click here

8. For those of you that conclude your NYSC and give away your shoes, shirts, caps to your loved ones or village girl friends at your place of primary assignment, lol,courtroom Mail wishes to inform you that section 14 of the NYSC Act says that any person who wears the NYSC uniform or any part of it without being a corp member or authorised to wear it is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N1000 or to imprisonment for a term of six months or to both fine and imprisonment.Here the giver is guilty for aiding and abetting while the receiver is guilty for wearing it.

Courtroommail.com