The House of Representatives has ordered an investigation into the death of a National Youth Service Corps member, Etimbuk Sunday, at the orientation camp in Enugu State, amid concerns over the medical attention he received and the condition of his body when it was handed over to his family.
The House, at plenary on Tuesday, adopted a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the Chairman of its Committee on Public Procurement, Idem Unyime, who called for an independent and impartial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the corps member’s death on October 11, 2026.
Sunday, a former Students’ Union Government president of Akwa Ibom State University, reportedly visited the camp clinic on October 7 after experiencing symptoms believed to be consistent with malaria or typhoid.
According to the concerns raised in the motion, “he received initial treatment at the clinic and was discharged with oral medication. However, questions have arisen over the treatment administered, the subsequent deterioration of his health and an alleged delay in referring him to a hospital for further medical attention.”
Lawmakers said the circumstances warranted “a thorough investigation to establish whether the appropriate medical procedures were followed and whether an earlier referral to a hospital could have changed the outcome.”
The House was also alarmed by reports that Sunday’s body was handed over to his family naked and with visible bruises.
The lawmakers called for an independent examination of the allegations, stressing that “both the circumstances of his death and the reported condition of his body require clear answers.”
The House subsequently mandated its Committees on Youth Development, Health Care Services, Police Affairs and Human Rights to investigate the incident and submit their findings within four weeks.
The joint committee is expected to “examine the medical care provided to Sunday, the handling of his deteriorating condition, the alleged delay in referring him to a hospital and the circumstances surrounding the release of his body to his family.”
The investigation is also expected to establish whether there were any lapses in the camp’s medical response and determine responsibility, should any wrongdoing be established.
Beyond the specific case, the House urged the Federal Ministries of Youth Development and Health and Social Welfare, alongside the NYSC Directorate, to review healthcare delivery and emergency response arrangements at orientation camps nationwide.
The lawmakers stressed the need for properly equipped clinics, qualified medical personnel, effective emergency procedures and prompt referrals to hospitals whenever a corps member’s condition requires specialised attention.
The NYSC orientation programme is a compulsory component of the one-year national service scheme for eligible Nigerian graduates. Corps members undergo a residential orientation lasting several weeks before being deployed to their places of primary assignment.