The Senate at its plenary session of Wednesday, 7 March 2018, rejected a bill, which seeks to amendment the National Youth Service Corp Act, 2004. The Bill is intended at increasing penalties for offences contained in the Act and ensures that regulations made by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Directorate which prescribes uniforms and exercise regimen do not violate the religious practices and beliefs of corps members.
Leading the debate, sponsor of the Bill, Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP: Taraba) noted recent tensions and controversies bordering on allegations that the NYSC uniforms and exercise regimen contravened religious beliefs of certain corps members and invariably their right to freedom of religion, thought and conscience as prescribed in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Sen. Bwacha stated that the Bill, if passed, will make it mandatory for the NYSC Directorate to adopt alternative uniforms and exercise regimen that appeal to the religious belief of corps members and address agitations from corps members and the general public on such issues of sensitivity.
However, the lawmakers voted against the Bill when the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (PDP: Enugu) who presided over the session put the question to a voice vote.
