National Youth Service Corps in Ogun State has stopped a female corps member, Miss Tolutope Ekundayo, from participating in the ongoing orientation programme for allegedly refusing to wear trousers at the camp.
The corps member, a graduate of the Lagos State University, Ojo, alleged that NYSC officials asked her to leave the camp after she refused to wear trousers, one of the corps members’ attire.
But the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. T.I Anosike, said Ekundayo voluntarily withdrew from the service “based on her faith.’’
“Nobody asked her to leave. She was asked to comply with the NYSC directives or leave. So she decided to leave. When she said that she won’t comply, we asked her to put it in writing which she did. So we didn’t expel her, she left on her own.”
Anosike also denied that the NYSC sent her out at 11pm, saying Apostle A.B. Otaru of Antioch Church, Sagamu came to pick her at 10.27pm on behalf of Adenuga.
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According to Ekundayo, females wearing trousers contravened her Christian belief.
Tolulope said, “I faced a panel and I was directed to submit all the kits that were given to me on the camp, which I did. There was also an order that I should go to the account unit and refund the N2, 500 transport and bicycle allowances paid to me when I arrived at the camp and I did so. All these happened on the same Friday that they ordered me to leave the camp.
“I want to serve my fatherland and if NYSC will allow me to wear skirts, I am ready to return to the Orientation Camp. My khaki and white skirts were made in such a way that they did not give me any problem. I was in Platoon Four and I participated actively in all the exercises from Tuesday to the Friday that I was thrown out of the camp.”
Adenuga, the President, Apostle Paul Gospel Outreach, had earlier wondered why the NYSC should take such an action when other security agencies, including the Nigerians Police allowed female to use skirts instead of trousers, that he said were only for men.
Also speaking, Apostle Paul Adenuga condemned the manner in which Ekundayo was expelled from the camp in the dead of the night without considering her safety and called on the Director-General of NYSC and the federal government to look into the matter before it gets out of hand.
“I call on Nigerians, mostly Christians that stand for the truth, not only to jointly condemn this barbaric and bestial act but to engage in constructive dialogue with the concerned authority for the change of such policy if it is official.”
“I call on Nigerians, mostly Christians that stand for the truth, not only to jointly condemn this barbaric and bestial act but to engage in constructive dialogue with the concerned authority for the change of such policy if it is official.”
NYSC reacts
When contacted, the Ogun State NYSC Co-ordinator, Mrs T.I Anosike maintained that the Service did not expelled anybody. According to her, Ms Ekundayo opted to go instead of abiding by the rules and regulations of the scheme.
She said wearing anything outside approved NYSC kits during the orientation programme was not allowed in the camp. This she said was the reason why every corps member was made to signed undertaking on cultism and dress code.
When contacted, the Ogun State NYSC Co-ordinator, Mrs T.I Anosike maintained that the Service did not expelled anybody. According to her, Ms Ekundayo opted to go instead of abiding by the rules and regulations of the scheme.
She said wearing anything outside approved NYSC kits during the orientation programme was not allowed in the camp. This she said was the reason why every corps member was made to signed undertaking on cultism and dress code.
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