JUST IN: Presidential aide clarifies comment on corps member, says remark was misinterpreted
Kunle Sanni
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has refuted claims that his recent comments on a corps member’s conduct were misrepresented.
In a statement released Monday, Ajayi stated that his remarks on Facebook were intended to emphasise the importance of upholding the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) by-laws and ensuring discipline within the scheme.
“I suggested that flagrant and open abuse and disregard of NYSC by-laws and established protocol should attract the full NYSC disciplinary measures, particularly regarding a corps member’s recent display of imprudence,” Ajayi said.
The statement comes amid public debates over discipline and compliance with NYSC protocols, with Ajayi emphasising that his comments were aimed at reinforcing the scheme’s long-standing principles.
Ushie ‘Raye’ Uguamaye, the Corporal serving in Lagos, had described President Bola Tinubu’s administration as terrible in a recent TikTok post.
In his reaction, Ajayi had in a post on Facebook, Ajayi said what the lady coper did should attract capital punishment under NYSC law.
The statement had been widely misconstrued by the general public with many criticising the presidential aide.
However, in his recent statement on Monday, Ajayi clarified that the maximum punishment he earlier referred to was under NYSC regulations, meaning an expulsion for Lady Corper.
He said his statement did not suggest or imply anything beyond the established disciplinary measures.
Ajayi, therefore, reaffirmed the NYSC scheme’s significance as a symbol of national unity and called for respect for its rules.
“The NYSC scheme is a historic and treasured national programme that should not be sullied and ridiculed by indiscipline. It symbolizes our triumph over division and our consistent effort to forge a more potent and virile union,” he stated.
He further urged Nigerians to uphold values of dignity, discipline, and mutual respect, which are essential for national cohesion.
