BY AHMED AKANBI
The Senate on Thursday ordered a thorough 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 Sen Aniekan Bassey (APC Akwa Ibom North East), who said the Senate received with shock and profound grief the death of Daniel, a young graduate undergoing mandatory national service in Enugu.
He described the deceased as former Students’ Union Government President of Akwa Ibom State University.
According to him, reports indicated Daniel died from complications of a minor headache after allegedly experiencing delays in receiving adequate medical attention at the camp clinic.
He said the incident exposed gaps in medical services in NYSC orientation camps, particularly the availability of qualified personnel, functional facilities and emergency referral systems.
Bassey stressed that government has a constitutional responsibility to safeguard the welfare of citizens, noting that graduates mobilised for national service deserve adequate medical care.
He added that Daniel’s death had plunged his family, the university community and Akwa Ibom State into mourning.
Seconding the motion, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC Borno North) supported the call for investigation to establish facts and ensure accountability.
The Senate directed its committees on Police, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Youth Development and Health, alongside the Police and DSS, to probe the circumstances and determine whether negligence contributed to the death.
Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over plenary, thanked Bassey for bringing the matter to the chamber and urged the committees to carry out a thorough investigation.