The House of Representatives on resumption from the Christmas and New Year recess is expected to commence debate on a bill which seeks to provide for life insurance cover for over million members of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The proposed legislation was coming on the heel of the series of killings of serving Corps members where they were deployed to for primary assignments.

The funding of the insurance scheme is to be provided in the annual federal budget, Tribune Online authoritatively gathered.

According to the proponent of the bill, Deputy Majority Whip, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the proposed bill seeks to amend the National Youth Service Corps Act, Cap. N84 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

She specifically proposed the amendment of Section 19 of the NYSC’s Principal act by “inserting a new section (A) immediately after the existing section 19 to read as follows: “The Service Corps shall make provision for Life Insurance cover for all Corps members during their service year”.

At least two Corps members namely: Oluwatobiloba Popoola and George Onakpom, were attacked and killed by hoodlums on the 20th March, 2019, at Victory International School, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Another Corps member identified as Mustapha Ingawa was arrested and tortured to death by some security operatives in December 2018 in Nasarawa State.

Also, 21-year-old Fortune Ihechukwu Ihe, a graduate of Economics reportedly died on the 14th April 2019 while engaged in camp strenuous activities at the NYSC orientation camp in Sokoto State. (Nigerian Tribune)