The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Corps members

  • Two corps members drown in Nasarawa

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nasarawa State has said two members drowned in a river at Assakio community, Lafia Local Government.

    The Coordinator, Hajiya Zainab Isah, who addressed reporters yesterday in Lafia, said Oguntola Babatunde and Danjuma Salihu went to the river in the evening of October 8 to swim, but drowned.

    She said an Assistant Commissioner of Police informed the service about the incident.

    “It is very sad, but I know God will grant them eternal rest and grant all of us, including their families, the fortitude to bear the loss. I can only say that we are bereaved, but God knows better,” Isah said.

    She advised other corps members to be careful and obey the rules of their host communities.

    “What I heard from a source was that farmers drowned in that river years ago.

    “When corps members enter a community, they should ask questions and watch their steps,” the coordinator said.

    She added that the bodies had been deposited at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia mortuary.

  • Minister to govt agencies: stop rejecting Corps members

    Minister to govt agencies: stop rejecting Corps members

    The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has frowned at the incessant rejection of Corps members by government agencies.

    Barrister Dalung who was reacting to the refusal of the Budget Office of the Federation to accept a Corps member from Rivers state who had been posted on primary assignment to the office in Abuja said such decisions were not in the interest of youth development and empowerment in the country.

    “Government agencies cannot reject Corps members. It is unacceptable. Why will government agencies reject corps members? Do you pay them or is that there is  no work to be done?” Dalung queried.

    The Minister reminded Government agencies and Parastatals that it is a government policy not to reject corps members posted to their offices.

    “The National Youth Service Corp scheme is a creation of the federal government and is intended to involve the country’s graduates in the development of the country. They are posted to states far from their states of origin intended for them to learn the culture of the indigenes in the place they are posted to. This is aimed at bringing about unity in the country and giving them an opportunity to learn about higher ideals of National achievement.”

    Dalung appealed to government agencies and private organisations to assist in absorbing Corps members so that they can be engaged positively nation building.

    “Rejecting corps members will add to the profile of unengaged youths which will create tension. Therefore, everybody is invited to join hands to assist our young people through entrepreneurship and empowerment programmes or anything that can gainfully engage them and create wealth for their livelihood and sustenance,” he said.

  • Be security conscious, Fayose tells Corps members

    Ekiti State  Governor  Ayo Fayose, has called on corps members serving in the state to be security conscious

    He made the call at the closing ceremony of the orientation course for Batch ‘A’ Stream 1 corps members held at NYSC Orientation Camp in Ise/Orun/Emure.

    Represented by his deputy Dr. Kolapo Olusola, Fayose advised Corps members to avoid unauthorised journey. He admonished them to respect the norms and cultures of the host communities where they are posted.

    Fayose  charged them to make the best use of opportunities to contribute to the development of Ekiti which he described as one of the most secured states in Nigeria.

    Earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Nwanne Ukagha, explained that 2,084 corps members participated in the orientation course.

    She appealed to Corps members to give their best in serving their host community regardless of whether they are well remunerated or not, urging them to see their service as more to Nigeria than their host community.

  • Corps members warned against rejecting posting

    The Lagos State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Mohammed Momoh, has warned the 2,570 CSorps members posted to Lagos to desist from inducing rejection from their places of primary assignment.

    In an interview with The Nation, Momoh said with over 90 per cent of NYSC placements based on request, Corps members in Lagos should have no problems finding places to work.  However, he said some were in the habit of forcing employers to reject them, which action he said was against the rules of the scheme.

    He said with over 90 per cent of NYSC placement based on request, Corps members in Lagos should have no problems finding places to work.  However, he said some were in the habit of forcing employers to reject them, which action he said was against the rules of the scheme.

    “We have employers in Lagos State cooperating with the scheme and supporting us in ensuring that corps members are not rejected.  We sensitised our corps members that it is a breach of law to induce rejection.  Some employers will give them accommodation and small stipend but some corps members will be looking for places they will earn N20,000 forgetting that it won’t come with accommodation, which is an issue in Lagos.

    In his speech at the closing ceremony of 2,570 Corps members mobilized for the Batch A Stream 1 of 2017, Momoh advised them to utilise credit opportunities introduced to them in camp to start businesses.

    He said they could become employers of labour by using the entrepreneurship skills learnt during their orientation camp programme to start businesses with soft loans from various government agencies and others.

    “Skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development programme was a major component of the orientation course.  It is aimed at making the corps members job creators rather than job seekers.  We will, therefore, encourage them to take advantage of the various platforms available for start-up capital put in place by the scheme in partnership with business credit granting institutions to set up their businesses.  Such institutions are the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Bank of Industry and Central Bank which grant business credit at zero or at low interest rates to corps members,” he said.

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Seye Oladejo, promised to expedite action on the construction of a new NYSC camp   for the state to replace the Iyana Ipaja camp, which has become too small.

    “My government will soon address the obvious challenge of inadequate facilities in the temporary camp with the construction of a befitting permanent orientation camp in order to cope with the ever increasing corps population deployed to Lagos State,” he said.

    Highpoint of the closing ceremony was the presentation of gifts to officials who distinguished themselves in carrying out their duties during the camp.

    The undisclosed monetary reward was presented by Oladejo to Mrs Iyabo Shittu, who was in charge of sanitation, and Lance Corporal Florence Balogun, who was posted to the camp clinic.

  • Fayose to Corps members: Be security conscious

    Fayose to Corps members: Be security conscious

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has called on corps members serving in the state to be security conscious and avoid unauthorised journeys.

    He made the call on Monday at closing ceremony of the orientation course for Batch ‘A’ Stream 1 corps members held at NYSC Orientation Camp in Ise/Orun/Emure.

    Represented by his deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, Fayose advised the corps members to respect the norms and cultures of the host communities of service.

    Fayose also charged them to make best use of opportunity to contribute to the development of the state which he described as one of the most secured in Nigeria.

    Earlier in her address, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Nwanne Ukagha, explained that 2,084 corps members participated in the orientation course.

    She urged the corps members to give their best in serving the community of posting whether they are well remunerated or not saying their service is to the nation.

     

  • NYSC DG expresses FGs commitments towards empowering corps members

    NYSC DG expresses FGs commitments towards empowering corps members

    Brig-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, Director-General, National Youth service Corps (NYSC) said on Thursday that the Federal Government was committed to   empowering corps members with skills to enable them become self-employed after their  service.

    Kazaure stated this when he inspected the NYSC Integrated Skills Acquisition and Vocational Centre project for the North- East zone in Lafiawo town of Akko Local Government in Gombe state , currently under construction.

    He said similar centres would be sited in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country.

    Kzaure said the projects would not only enable the corps members to be self-employed, but also become employees of labour after their service year.

    “When we come on board, we discovered that we have problem of post-camp training in skills acquisition and therefore decided to initiate a project in the six geo-political zones.

    “If you look at the number of corps members we are producing, no government or private organizations can employ all of them,” he said.

    According to him, the project is being embarked upon in collaboration with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bank of Industry (BOI).

    Kazaure expressed his satisfaction with the level of work on the projects in the state and urged the contractor to maintain standard.

    Mr Ibeh Chidube, NYSC Coordinator in Gombe said that the centre had the capacity to accommodate 500 corps members and 20 facilitators.

    He then commended the effort of the D-G for his initiative, and Gombe state government, for their support

  • NYSC, NSCDC lament drowning of corps members

    NYSC, NSCDC lament drowning of corps members

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Bayelsa State have lamented the death of corps members in boat mishaps at the weekend.
    The two agencies raised the concern when the new state Commandant, NYSC, Mrs. Loto Bolade, paid a courtesy visit to the state Commandant of the NSCDC, Desmond Agu, in Yenagoa, the state capital.
    Corps members serving in some riverine communities in the state have been dying following boat mishaps.
    But Agu urged NYSC authorities to impress it upon youths participating in the scheme, especially those posted to the coastal areas to always make use of life jackets when travelling.
    He said: “Bayelsa State has a different terrain. It is 70 per cent water.
    “So, always tell the corps members to carry their life jackets and wear them whenever they are travelling. Even if they can swim, they should not be over-confident.
    “NYSC should also ensure that they are constantly in touch with youths posted to remote areas.
    “Always keep in touch with the youths and ensure that their employers are treating them well.”
    Agu said his command will always contribute to the success of NYSC programmes in the state by providing the needed security.
    He advised all federal agencies should work together in the discharge of their duties.
    Bolade said NYSC was working hard to ensure that members of the corps posted to rural areas in the state were given life jackets.
    “We will continue to talk to the corps members posted to the riverine areas to always wear their life jackets. We will keep talking to them,” she said.
    Bolade, who was redeployed from Niger State, thanked the NSCDC for its cooperation especially in the areas of security.
    She appealed for more support and demanded security presence at the Kaiama camp for the forthcoming orientation programme.

  • Corps members take anti-drug campaign to motor park

    To prevent abuse of drugs among commercial vehicle operators, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have visited the Garki motor park in Area 1 of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to sensitise drivers in an event with the theme: The need for rehabilitation as a way of ensuring a drug-free society.

    The Corps members, who are members of Drug Free Community Development Service (CDS) group, visited the park last  Thursday with the objective to stop commercial drivers from taking harmful drugs and substances that enhance body activities.

    Mrs Joy Haruna, Director of Abuja NYSC camp, who represented the state coordinator, said the initiative was informed by the need to educate the commercial drivers on dangers inherent in the use of drugs and harmful substances.

    She said an intoxicated driver would not only put the lives of  passengers and himself at risk, she said such individual would endanger the lives of other road users.

    The guest speaker, Mrs Shikse Peret, a Clinical Psychologist from the Christian Woman for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society Rehabilitation Centre, Jos, the Plateau State capital, urged the government, religious groups, and corperate organisations to support funding of rehabilitation centres built across the country.

    She noted that most rehabilitation homes were either too expensive to be afforded by average individuals or underfunded, preventing them from meeting up the needs of victims.

    She stressed that caring for victims of drug and substance abuse goes beyond medical treatment, adding that the availability of rehabilitation homes to cater for the victims remained key in achieving a drug free society.

    The Assistant Superintendent of Drug Demand Reduction in the Narcotics Division of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Augustine Nduka, praised the Corps members for embarking on the sensitisation.

    He said substances that enhance body activities are easily abused by drivers, saying the social and psychological effects of excessive drug us could not be quantified. He challenged the drivers to report cases of drug and substance abuse to the NDLEA without fear.

    Responding to questions from a participant, Nduka assured that NDLEA would explore all avenues to ensure reduction in abuse of drugs, adding that the event was part of the agency’s efforts to reduce and prevent use of harmful drug.

    A rehabilitated abuser, Mr Emmanuel Gyang, shared his story. He said it took personal determination to overcome addiction, saying affordability of rehabilitation also helped him.

    He advised victims of drug addiction to look inward and drop the habit, saying: “Rehabilitation would amount to nothing if you are not ready to change.”

    The event featured music, poem recitation and drama educating the participants on the harmful effects of drug abuse.

    Chairman of Area 1 Taxi and Car Drivers Association, Mr Kabiru Ibrahim, thanked the Corps members for the awareness, promising to collaborate with NDLEA and the CDS to make the park free of drugs.

  • NYSC, NSCDC decry drowning of corps members in Bayelsa

    NYSC, NSCDC decry drowning of corps members in Bayelsa

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Bayelsa State, Wednesday, lamented death of corps members in the state through boat mishaps.

    The two agencies raised the concern when the new state Commandant, NYSC, Mrs. Loto Bolade paid a courtesy visit to the state Commandant of the NSCDC, Desmond Agu, in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Corps members serving in some riverine communities in the state have been losing their lives following boat mishaps.

    But Agu urged NYSC authorities to impress it upon youths participating in the scheme especially persons posted to the coastal areas to always make use of their life jackets when traveling.

    He said: “Bayelsa State has a different terrain. It is 70 per cent water. So, always tell the corps members to carry their life jackets and wear them whenever they are traveling. Even if they can swim, they should not be over-confident.

    “NYSC should also ensure that they are constantly in touch with youths posted to remote areas. Always keep in touch with the youths and ensure that their employers are treating them well”.

    Agu said his command would always contribute to the success of NYSC programmes in the state by providing the needed security.

    He advised that all federal agencies should work together to assist one another in the discharge of their duties adding that agencies should not work in acrimony.

    In her response, Bolade said NYSC was working hard to ensure that members of the corps posted to rural areas in the state were given life jackets.

    “We will continue to talk to the corps members posted to the riverine areas to always wear their life jackets. We will keep talking to them”, she said.

    Bolade, who was redeployed from Niger State, thanked the NSCDC for its cooperation especially in the areas of security.

    She appealed to the command for more support and demanded security presence at the Kaiama camp for the forthcoming orientation programme.

  • Wike should keep promise to corps members

    SIR: One of the reasons given for the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was to inculcate national consciousness and unity in graduates of tertiary institutions, whether local or foreign. That has yielded great results. Based on this, many have said that the scheme should continue. In fact, some argue that its usefulness outweighs its disadvantages; therefore, the said unity for which former head of state Gen. Yakubu Gowon established the scheme is still very relevant.

    There is no doubt that the scheme faces enormous challenges, including  improper welfare packages, insecurity, repositioning and the continued use of corps members for national assignment, like elections and others.

    For instance, before I was posted to Rivers State for the service year.  I have read so much about the state, described as ‘flowing with milk and honey cum political restlessness.’ And then came the killing of Okonta Dumebi Samuel, a fellow corps member at Ukpeliede town hall, ward 6, unit 5 in Ahoada West Local Government during the March, 2016, rerun elections in the state. Two other corps members were abducted, but they escaped from their abductors.

    At that ugly stage, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on a visit to NYSC headquarters in Port Harcourt, promised to immediately improve corps members welfare package, saying that monthly allowance of corps members serving outside Port Harcourt (Villages) would now be N15, 000, instead of N10, 000, while those in Port Harcourt would get N10, 000 instead of N5000. The governor also promised to immortalise our late colleague, corps member Samuel Okonta for his ultimate sacrifice and expressed regret that desperate politicians took the life of a serving corps member.

    Events that create emotions cannot be forgotten soon -it means history is dead. I recall the dark day when  hoodlums invaded a nearby corps members lodge in Asarama, raped corps members, took their belongings, and we were  all redeployed out of the local government  back to upland for security reasons and safety.

    What about the recent raids of female corps members lodge at Alode in Eleme, where the hoodlums robbed and asked the females to strip naked and lie down, collected their laptops, phones and money?

    The point is that corps members in the state have continued to experience attacks, molestation and suffering. The only way the state can make us feel that our service to Rivers State has not been in vain is for Governor Wike to put smiles on our faces by fulfilling his promise.

    Now that Batch A, stream 1 and 2, will be passing out in a few weeks from now,  especially Batch A stream 1 that will pass out April 7, according to NYSC time table, it will be commendable if the governor fulfills his promise.

     

    • Mark Columbus Orgu,

    Rivers