NYSC introduces biometric clearance to check fraud

Corps members at a parade

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has introduced Biometric Clearance System for corps members in all local government areas of Nigeria to check impersonation and other forms of fraud in the scheme.

The Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure, said this on Tuesday in Katsina at the opening of a workshop on Biometric Clearance for corps members serving in the North-West zone, using ICT.

He said, “I am delighted to inform you that all necessary logistics are ready and will be distributed to the local government areas in the country for the biometric clearance after the workshop.”

The director-general said the initiative was aimed at ensuring accountability and transparency in corps members’ activities, by preventing proxy registration, impersonation and other forms of fraud in the scheme.

Kazaure, who was represented by Mr Athony Ani, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, said that the step was in line with Federal Government’s fight against corruption.

Mrs Christy Uba, the Director, ICT, said the programme would be conducted in partnership with SIDMACH Nigeria Ltd.

She said that the system would assist in ensuring adequate monitoring of corps members at their places of primary assignment, using their fingerprints and personal data.

She added that “with the launch of the biometric clearance, all forms of vices that undermine the operations of the scheme will henceforth be over.

“Mobilisation processes, deployment, monitoring, production of ID cards and printing of NYSC certificates will now be done through
the biometric system.”

The Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari, said that the scheme would provide manpower to government which would enable it to meet the yearnings of the people.

The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Youth Development, Alhaji Ibrahim Khalil, commended the scheme’s management
for introducing the new clearance system.

He assured that the state government would continue to support the scheme to achieve its set objectives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NYSC, established by decree No. 24 of May 22, 1973, is a mandatory one year service to the nation on every graduate who is less than 30 years.

The graduates, who would be posted out of his or her state of origin to serve, would first be assembled for three weeks orientation in a camp, where they would undergo training, including those similar with the army, as well as get familiar with their host states.

The NYSC members would then be posted to either government or private organisations in order for them to put into practical what they had learnt in school.