The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday directed its committee on Youth and sports to investigate the alleged illegal appointment of a new Director-General for the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC by the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt.Gen. Tukur Buratai
This development was sequel to an adopted order 42 and 52 Senate rule moved by Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West. He said Buratai unilaterally made the alleged unconstitutional and controversial appointment without recourse to the constitution.
Melaye in presenting his motion said it was unconstitutional for Buratai to have made the said appointment as it was in breach of the provision of the 1999 constitution as amended.
“I’m bringing to the notice of the Senate an infringement in the appointment of a new Director-General of NYSC. It was said that the Chief of Army Staff made a new appointment of NYSC Director-General in replacement of the former DG.
“This is unconstitutional as it is only the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that has the right as provided by the constitution to do so. The NYSC act section 5 reads, “There shall be a Director-General for the National Youth Service Corps to be appointed by the President.
“But Buratai through a signal removed and appointed a new NYSC DG. We should not allow this, Mr. President. Otherwise, We should not be surprised to wake up one morning to hear that DG, Nigerian Security, and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has been removed and appointed a new Senate President”.
