A non-governmental organisations, Incorporated Trustees of Centre for Pursuit of Legal and Constitutional Rights, has asked a Federal High Court, Abuja to sack the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Louis N. Edozien.
The centre is seeking the order on the ground that he failed to participate in the compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) after his graduation from the university.The suit also has the Head of Service of the Federation and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice as defendants.
The NGO wants the court to hold that Edozien is not eligible, qualify or fit to hold the position of permanent secretary in the ministry, or hold any position or appointment in any public or private sector in the country.
Samuel Akpenpuun, who filed the suit on behalf of the organisation, wants an order of the court directing the AGF to immediately recommend the sack/dismissal of Edozien as the permanent secretary.The centre is also seeking an order directing Edozien to refund to the federation account, finances and and other emoluments paid to him as a permanent secretary in the ministry.
The plaintiff formulated three issues for the determination of the court, which include, whether the permanent secretary, “Having willfully failed to present himself for participation in the NYSC scheme, has not blatantly breached the provision of Section 2(1) of the NYSC Act Cap. N84 LFN.
“Whether the first defendant, having not participated in the NYSC scheme in Nigeria, in breach of Section 2(1) of the NYSC Act is not eligible for appointment as a permanent secretary in the civil service in Nigeria, in view of the provision of Section 2(1) of the NYSC Act.”
The claimant also wants the court to declare whether the AGF and Minister of Justice, in view of the provision establishing the NYSC, can recommend the immediate sack/dismissal of the perm-sec from the civil service to the Head of Service of the Federation.
In the statement of fact and particulars supporting the suit, the plaintiff alleged that Edozien, in defiant to the law, blatantly refused to present himself to participate in the NYSC scheme of the government of Nigeria.That he, not having obtained a discharge certificate from the NYSC, by failing to participate in the scheme, is not qualify to hold any position in the public or private sector in the country.
-GUARDIAN-
