Senate rejects bill to include skirts in NYSC uniform

A bill to amend the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act
failed to scale second reading at the Senate on Wednesday

The bill was rejected following concerns that such amendment
requires altering the constitution which requires a longer
process.

Soliciting support of his colleagues, Emmanuel Bwacha
(Taraba-PDP) said the amendment was meant to give corps members the
liberty of digressing from the rigid adherence to the NYSC uniform
specification.

“This particular amendment especially in section 13 and 16 of
the principal act is to achieve the following objectives; increase
the penalty for offences contained in the Act to make such fines
reflect the present value of the naira. To ensure that regulations
made by the directorate prescribing drills and uniform for exercise
do not violate certain religious practices.

“The uniform adopted for corps members have become a basis for
controversy between the directorate and the public. In fact, some
corps members drop out of service because of conflict they’ve
witnessed. The major bone of contention is that some of the drills
and uniform contravene the religious belief of corps members and
invariably denying them right of religion, thought and
conscience.”

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who took over from
Bukola Saraki in presiding over the plenary called the attention of
Mr. Bwacha to the provisions of Section 9 (2) of the
Constitution.

“Section 9 (2) of the Constitution says that for you to amend
the Constitution, it has to pass through the senate and the state
assemblies. We have to follow the same process as if we are
amending the Constitution. What we are trying to do here is like to
amend the NYSC Act. I understand your position, we have to follow
that process.”

In his contribution to the debate on the amendment, Barau Jibrin
(Kano-APC) argued for the amendment to stand in conformity with
various religions in the country.

“People of this country are either Christians, Muslims or
traditionalists and we have our values. It appears the mode of
dressing of NYSC contravenes this very important aspect of our
religion. The amendment is simple. We should make it in tandem with
our values, culture and religion.”

Abubakar Kyari (Borno-APC) also agreed with this position saying
that the amendment conforms with the awareness of Nigerians which
have evolved since establishment of NYSC.

“I know NYSC has been around for over 40 years but awareness
also changes. People are now more aware of the cultural and
religious belief now than before and I believe the mode of dressing
should reflect this.”

However, Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti-PDP) was of a different opinion.
She said the amendment could be effected without altering the
constitution.

“This uniform has been worn since 1973, I don’t know why it
became auspicious for us to now look for an act of the National
Assembly to alter that. If there are little things to be done to
make it better, I believe mere pronouncement by the NYSC should be
capable of addressing that rather than an Act of the National
Assembly.”

The Senate thereafter rejected the bill after a second voice
vote.

Addressing journalists shortly after the plenary, Mr. Bwacha
accused the presiding officer of conspiracy to kill the bill.

“I said clearly there that there was a conspiracy from the
chair. As a presiding officer, you keep your opinion. When a bill
comes out, you allow members to discuss and debate freely.”

He was referring to Mr. Ekweremadu’s decision to call the
attention of the house to Section 9 (2) of the constitution before
allowing senators debate on the bill.

Mr. Bwacha explained why he introduced the bill and the benefits
if it was allowed to stay.

“The bill that sought to amend the NYSC Act so as to increase
the powers of the directorate to address issues pertaining to dress
code did not scale through because it was largely misunderstood.
The reason being that it was not intended to amend the
Constitution, the issue in question, particularly the dress code
has to do with the powers vested on the directorate by itself. The
Constitution does not mention dress code for the NYSC.

“This bill arose as a result of series of complains I have
received across Nigeria from those who have fallen out of service
because they are not in agreement with the use of trouser as a
female. They took up the complaint but the directorate didn’t give
them attention. There are several number of corpers who refuse to
continue with NYSC because they believe wearing of trouser as a
female in public offends their faith.

“This issue is not controversial, it’s a simple policy statement
by NYSC that would have changed it. But year-in, year-out, it has
been so difficult. It has nothing to do with religion.”

He added that corps members should be allowed to wear skirts if
doing otherwise offends their belief.

“A lady who feels offensive of wearing a trouser should be
allowed to put skirt on top during drilling so that it doesn’t
inconvenient her. We are saying some people should have the freedom
to choose.”

Despite the rejection, Mr. Bwacha said he would reach out to the
management of NYSC to enforce the amendment to the dress code.

“We are going to use alternative means of reaching out to the
directorate to allow corpers who feels it is contrary to their
belief to address this problem,” he said.

A bill to amend the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Act
failed to scale second reading at the Senate on Wednesday

The bill was rejected following concerns that such amendment
requires altering the constitution which requires a longer
process.

Soliciting support of his colleagues, Emmanuel Bwacha
(Taraba-PDP) said the amendment was meant to give corps members the
liberty of digressing from the rigid adherence to the NYSC uniform
specification.

“This particular amendment especially in section 13 and 16 of
the principal act is to achieve the following objectives; increase
the penalty for offences contained in the Act to make such fines
reflect the present value of the naira. To ensure that regulations
made by the directorate prescribing drills and uniform for exercise
do not violate certain religious practices.

“The uniform adopted for corps members have become a basis for
controversy between the directorate and the public. In fact, some
corps members drop out of service because of conflict they’ve
witnessed. The major bone of contention is that some of the drills
and uniform contravene the religious belief of corps members and
invariably denying them right of religion, thought and
conscience.”

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who took over from
Bukola Saraki in presiding over the plenary called the attention of
Mr. Bwacha to the provisions of Section 9 (2) of the
Constitution.

“Section 9 (2) of the Constitution says that for you to amend
the Constitution, it has to pass through the senate and the state
assemblies. We have to follow the same process as if we are
amending the Constitution. What we are trying to do here is like to
amend the NYSC Act. I understand your position, we have to follow
that process.”

In his contribution to the debate on the amendment, Barau Jibrin
(Kano-APC) argued for the amendment to stand in conformity with
various religions in the country.

“People of this country are either Christians, Muslims or
traditionalists and we have our values. It appears the mode of
dressing of NYSC contravenes this very important aspect of our
religion. The amendment is simple. We should make it in tandem with
our values, culture and religion.”

Abubakar Kyari (Borno-APC) also agreed with this position saying
that the amendment conforms with the awareness of Nigerians which
have evolved since establishment of NYSC.

“I know NYSC has been around for over 40 years but awareness
also changes. People are now more aware of the cultural and
religious belief now than before and I believe the mode of dressing
should reflect this.”

However, Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti-PDP) was of a different opinion.
She said the amendment could be effected without altering the
constitution.

“This uniform has been worn since 1973, I don’t know why it
became auspicious for us to now look for an act of the National
Assembly to alter that. If there are little things to be done to
make it better, I believe mere pronouncement by the NYSC should be
capable of addressing that rather than an Act of the National
Assembly.”

The Senate thereafter rejected the bill after a second voice
vote.

Addressing journalists shortly after the plenary, Mr. Bwacha
accused the presiding officer of conspiracy to kill the bill.

“I said clearly there that there was a conspiracy from the
chair. As a presiding officer, you keep your opinion. When a bill
comes out, you allow members to discuss and debate freely.”

He was referring to Mr. Ekweremadu’s decision to call the
attention of the house to Section 9 (2) of the constitution before
allowing senators debate on the bill.

Mr. Bwacha explained why he introduced the bill and the benefits
if it was allowed to stay.

“The bill that sought to amend the NYSC Act so as to increase
the powers of the directorate to address issues pertaining to dress
code did not scale through because it was largely misunderstood.
The reason being that it was not intended to amend the
Constitution, the issue in question, particularly the dress code
has to do with the powers vested on the directorate by itself. The
Constitution does not mention dress code for the NYSC.

“This bill arose as a result of series of complains I have
received across Nigeria from those who have fallen out of service
because they are not in agreement with the use of trouser as a
female. They took up the complaint but the directorate didn’t give
them attention. There are several number of corpers who refuse to
continue with NYSC because they believe wearing of trouser as a
female in public offends their faith.

“This issue is not controversial, it’s a simple policy statement
by NYSC that would have changed it. But year-in, year-out, it has
been so difficult. It has nothing to do with religion.”

He added that corps members should be allowed to wear skirts if
doing otherwise offends their belief.

“A lady who feels offensive of wearing a trouser should be
allowed to put skirt on top during drilling so that it doesn’t
inconvenient her. We are saying some people should have the freedom
to choose.”

Despite the rejection, Mr. Bwacha said he would reach out to the
management of NYSC to enforce the amendment to the dress code.

“We are going to use alternative means of reaching out to the
directorate to allow corpers who feels it is contrary to their
belief to address this problem,” he said.