General
Yakubu Gowon and DG NYSC
General
Yakubu Gowon and DG NYSC Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim
NYSC Urges States, LGCs to Provide Corpers
Lodges
“The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) may have made so much
impact on the country over the past forty-six years, especially in
the areas of unity and socio-economic development.
“Its contributions to education, healthcare delivery,
agriculture, science and technology, and rural infrastructure have
continued to attract accolades from different quarters.
“But in spite of these feats, the Scheme is still grappling with
some challenges,” says Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim.
Brig. Gen. Ibrahim, the Director of NYSC, stated this at a
‘Sensitization Workshop on the Scheme Act, CAP. N84, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria, 2004.’
The event, held at Rockview Hotel in Abuja, was themed: “NYSC:
Call to Service.”
At the opening ceremony of the workshop, General Ibrahim, noted
that some of the challenges are in the areas of stakeholders’
obligations and cases of non-compliance with regulations on
mobilization and exemption from service.
“May I, therefore, seize this opportunity to specifically remind
States and Local Governments of their obligations to the Scheme,
especially with regards to the provision and maintenance of
Orientation Camps, Corps Members Lodges, other essential welfare
facilities, as well as office accommodation for the Scheme,” he
said.
He also commended the States that have shown commitment in this
regard, while appealing to others to make the necessary facilities
available for the comfort of Corps Members deployed to their
States.
The Director General, while speaking further, informed
professional bodies who have been inundating the Scheme with
requests for posting of Corps members to specific areas of
endeavours for Primary Assignment that such requests are not in
tandem with the provisions of the NYSC Act, which their posting
policy is derived.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Corps members are assigned to serve
in areas where their services are required in line with national
needs, while given priority to rural transformation,” he said.
The NYSC boss, maintained that the sensitization workshop will
not only go a long way to deepen the understanding of the Act, but
will also expand the scope of their target audience.
His words: “Given the current realities and the continuing
relevance of NYSC, we have recognized the need to provide avenue
for enlightenment of Nigerians on the enabling Act and the various
aspects of our operations.
“This is based on our firm belief that the roles of stakeholders
are better played if the provisions of the enabling law are clearly
understood.”
Chairman of the occasion, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, commended the NYSC
management for its foresight in taking the bold step to provide a
platform for the youths to play their part in actualizing the
vision of a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
The former Head of State, who was represented by a one-time
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ahmadu
Ali, explained that though the establishment of the Scheme was
initially greeted by misgivings, it did not take long for it to
earn the acceptance of Nigerians, especially the target youths.
“At this juncture, I enjoin participants to also use this forum
for further appraisal of the scheme’s performance, and set agenda
for its contribution to the growth and development of the country
in the next decades.
“I also recommend that this sensitization should be taken to the
grassroots so as to reach more stakeholders,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports
Development, Mr. Olusade Adesola, said apart from the Corps
members’ contribution to the various sectors of the economy through
their primary assignment, communities in all parts of the country
have continued to benefit from landmark projects they execute under
the Scheme’s Community Development Service (CDS).
“Also deserving commendation is the participation of the Corps
members in the execution of key national programmes such as
elections, population census and national immunization,” he
added.
By PRNigeria