Nigerian Woman Accuse NYSC of Withholding her Discharge Certificate for Missing POP Due to Childbirth

A Nigerian woman, Mrs. Prudence Chimezie Agada has accused the NYSC of withholding her discharge certificate for eight years because she missed the Passing Out Parade due to childbirth, despite fulfilling her service duties.

Mrs. Prudence Chimezie Agada from Abuja has accused the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) of withholding her discharge certificate for eight years after she completed her mandatory service in April 2016. She claims the NYSC refuses to issue the certificate because she missed the Passing Out Parade (POP) after giving birth just four days before the event.

Her husband, Mr. Peter Agada, explained that although Mrs. Agada was pregnant during her service, she fulfilled her duties without complaint or rule violations. Despite visiting the NYSC FCT Secretariat multiple times with her newborn and necessary documents, they were repeatedly told she couldn’t receive her certificate because she missed the POP.

According to Agada, “On April 12, 2016, prior to their Passing Out Parade on April 16, 2016, she delivered a baby boy at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada. “Within a month, we went to the NYSC FCT Secretariat with the newborn baby and all the documents from the hospital for the collection of her discharge certificate and we were told to come after three weeks, that the staff were back to the camp as there were new corps members on camp. “We went back as instructed only for them to tell us that my wife can’t collect her discharge certificate no matter the excuse we have. “They said that rule states that it is only on camp during the passing out parade that corps members collect their discharge certificates.”

The NYSC suggested an extension of service as a penalty, typically reserved for errant corps members. However, Mrs. Agada was never reassigned to a Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) for the extension.

Agada said, “One man advised them against such punishment that it will amount to violation of my wife’s fundamental rights but they claimed that my wife’s file was missing and they started looking for it. Thereafter, they told us the file had been found and returned to the headquarters. “One of the NYSC staff members, Mrs. Ifeoma and one Mrs. Bamai, who was an Assistant Director at that time vehemently opposed the advice of the man and ensured that my wife didn’t get her discharge certificate for reasons best known to them. “One of them openly told us to go to hell, that we can’t do anything, and that even if we go to court and get a judgment, it will still amount to nothing. “She boasted that I don’t know the number of garnishee orders pending against NYSC and asked where the judgment creditors were. She said that we are not the first people and won’t be the last.”

Over the years, their pleas were ignored, causing significant emotional distress for Mrs. Agada, affecting her family life and mental health.

According to SAHARA REPORTERS, efforts have been made to contact NYSC officials, including Dr. Eddy Megwa, for clarification and investigation, no resolution has been provided.

Mr. Agada is calling on concerned individuals and organizations to assist in resolving this issue, holding the NYSC accountable for any further impact on his wife’s well-being.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SAHARA REPORTERS