By Olugbenga Salami
The Senate on Thursday ordered investigation into the death of a corps member, Comrade Etimbuk Daniel, at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Enugu State.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Senator Aniekan Bassey (APC Akwa Ibom North-East), who said the Senate received with shock the death of Daniel, a young Nigerian undergoing mandatory National Youth Service in Enugu.
He described the deceased as former Students’ Union Government president of Akwa Ibom State University who had embarked on national service.
Bassey said reports indicated Daniel died from complications of a minor headache after allegedly suffering delays in getting adequate medical attention at the camp clinic.
He said the incident raised serious concerns about medical services in NYSC camps, including availability of qualified personnel, functional facilities and emergency referral systems.
The senator stressed that government has a constitutional duty to protect citizens’ welfare, adding that graduates mobilised for national service deserve adequate medical care.
He said Daniel’s death had thrown his family, the university community and Akwa Ibom State into mourning.
Seconding the motion, Senator Tahir Monguno (APC Borno North) called for thorough investigation to establish facts and ensure accountability.
Adopting the motion, the Senate directed its Committees on Police, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Youth Development and Health, alongside the Police and Department of State Service (DSS), to investigate whether negligence contributed to the death.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided, thanked Bassey for raising the matter and urged the committees to conduct a thorough probe.
