Halt NYSC Procurement Chief Appointment, Civil Society Coalition Demands

A coalition of civil society organisations under the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) has urged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to suspend the appointment of a Director of Procurement until all pending conclusion of investigation against him.

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, CSGGG President Comrade Ogakwu Dominic voiced strong concerns over plans to appoint Mr. Olaoluwa Joshua Onifade as Director of Procurement while he remains under investigation for alleged age falsification.

Dominic stressed that the coalition’s goal is not to declare Onifade guilty, but to uphold due process, transparency, and institutional integrity.

According to the group, a disciplinary panel chaired by a former Director of Ventures already submitted its report on several cases including Onifade’s to the relevant authority.

 However, the coalition alleged that the findings have yet to be reviewed, warning that the delay undermines public service standards.

Emphasizing the sensitivity of the role, the CSGGG noted that the Director of Procurement manages vast public funds and must be held to the highest standards of integrity and accountability.

It also alleged discrepancies in Onifade’s official records, claiming that an NYSC portal green card reportedly listed his date of birth as 1968, while entries in the nominal roll reflected 1972.

The group called on the NYSC management to independently verify the officer’s complete personnel records and resolve the discrepancies through a transparent and lawful process.

To address these concerns, CSGGG outlined key demands for the NYSC, including the immediate convening of the Senior Staff Committee to resolve all pending disciplinary matters.

The group insisted that any appointments or promotions for officers under investigation be frozen, and that all actions strictly adhere to Public Service Rules and NYSC guidelines.

The coalition also appealed to key oversight bodies such as the Office of the Head of Service, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the ICPC, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the SGF, and relevant National Assembly committees to step in and monitor the situation.

CSGGG maintained that allowing disciplinary processes to finish before making strategic appointments is essential to rebuilding public trust and reinforcing the principle that no official is above the law.