Disturbed over the issues of fake certificates in the country, especially the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Civil Rights Advocacy Group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has called for thorough investigation of certificates given to officials in the public spheres.
The call was made in Abuja on Sunday during a briefing by the National Coordinator, HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko in concordance with the Patriotic Defenders of National Institutions.
He said, “HURIWA and Patriotic Defenders of National Institutions are profoundly concerned that the NYSC, a pivotal institution in Nigeria tasked with certifying the completion of national service for graduates, is facing questions about the authenticity of a gubernatorial candidate’s NYSC certificate.
“This threatens the trust and credibility of the NYSC. We insist on a comprehensive investigation into the authenticity of NYSC certificates issued to all individuals in public offices, particularly those in elected positions.
“Furthermore, we demand a nationwide investigation into the authenticity of NYSC certificates issued to individuals holding public offices. The credibility of these certificates must be verified to maintain public trust and uphold certification integrity”.
Onwubiko stressed that the rule of law should be allowed to prevail in all court issues, as that is one of the fundamentals of democracy
In his terms he said; “The rule of law is a fundamental pillar of democracy. In this case, it appears that the tribunal’s judgement may have departed from established legal principles. The rule of law guarantees that justice is administered impartially, without bias. We demand a thorough review of the judgement to ensure the rule of law prevails.
“Moreover, the independence of the judiciary is crucial for the smooth functioning of a democratic society. A judiciary perceived as compromised or biased erodes public confidence in the judicial system. We call for an evaluation of the Justice Akano-led tribunal’s decision to determine if it aligns with the principles of judicial independence”.
Speaking about the rule of law, he mentioned that the judiciary should ensure that the public see their transparency in their judgement as this is crucial for peace and acceptance of the verdicts of the judicial system by the public.