The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC), Brig Gen. Sule Zakari Kazaure, yesterday warned corp members to shun all forms of financial and materials inducement from politicians during Saturday’s election.
The NYSC boss told the corp members, who are expected to serve as Ad-Hoc staff at the various local governments, to remain neutral.
Kazaure, who urged them to show high level of maturity and neutrality throughout the exercise, assured them of their safety before, during and after the election.
Kazaure spoke during his visit to the state capital, Akure.
“Don’t be partisan. Shun all forms of all material gifts from the politicians. Resist all their plans to induce you. Don’t eat from these politicians. Don’t take anything from anybody. Don’t use vehicles that are not provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“On that day, be well kitted in your uniform. I want you to be well dressed. If there is a problem, don’t hesitate to secure your life first. Make yourself safe first before any other thing.”
Tag: NYSC DG
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Don’t collect bribe, NYSC DG warns
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NYSC DG laments state of orientation camps
NATIONAL Youths Service Corps (NYSC) Director General Brig-Gen. Suleiman Z. Kazaure has flayed the facilities in most orientation camps, describing them as “obsolete, dilapidated and grossly inadequate for the increasing corps population”.
Kazaure, who spoke at a pre-orientation workshop in Calabar yesterday, said the scheme, which started with about 2,700 corps members in 1973, is now mobilising over 300,000 members annually.
His words: “Presently, the facilities in most orientation camps are obsolete, dilapidated and grossly inadequate for the ever-increasing corps population.
“The panacea to the challenge is for all the three tiers of government to live up to the statutory roles in the operations of the scheme.
“We are encouraged however by the efforts of the Federal Government at providing funds in spite of obvious financial constraints.”
He hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for making it possible for all graduates to be mobilised for service in 2016.
Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, who was represented by his deputy, Prof. Ivara Esu, assured the NYSC management of continued collaboration. -
NYSC DG pledges enhanced healthcare for rural dwellers
The National Youth Service Corps will continue to live up to its responsibility of providing qualitative free healthcare services to the rural dwellers and the less-privileged in the society. Its Director General, Brig Gen. Zakari Kazaure, reaffirmed this in Ibadan during the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD), observed in all the states of the federation.
This, he said, is in line with the best practices the world over when responsible agencies of government under the corporate social responsibility gives all encompassing assistance and render life-touching services to its host communities. NYSC helmsman, who was represented by a Deputy Director, Mrs. Adetokunbo Idowu, disclosed the encouragement received from the critical stakeholders of the scheme encouraged the management to give all what it takes for the programme to succeed.
Kazaure was of the opinion that if all sectors can support the scheme in its bid to make life more meaningful to the less privileged and those in the rural communities, Nigeria will be moving nearer to the target of health for all under Vision 2020 projection. He said that the scheme has deployed corps medical and allied professionals to the rural areas nationwide to bridge the gap of accessing quality healthcare by the populace majority of who live in rural areas.
The Director General expressed confidence that the program, which was flagged off last year, has received tremendous supports and assistance from well-meaning Nigerians and corporate entities. The NYSC boss boasted the scheme has qualified and competent professionals in most of the medical fields, having been tested and trusted to deliver the policy thrust of the HIRD programme.
Oyo State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Akin-Moses, reported than since the inception of the programme last year, over ten thousand beneficiaries have accessed the free medical services in the state.
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NYSC DG asks corps members to shun corruption
The Director-General, National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen Sule Kazaure, has advised corps members to shun corruption. Kazaure, who was on inspection visit to NYSC camp in Nsit Atai Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, said corruption had done more damage to the country. He asked the corps member to key into the NYSC’s Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) and make themselves self employed.
While urging the corps members to take advantage of the SAED programme, the DG said there are a lot of opportunities through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other corporate organisations for corps members to be self employed.
He said: “I want you to know that there is no short-cut to success. Abstain from the use of drugs and you have to be law abiding. Try as much as possible to abstain from corruption. That is what is killing the country. We are backward because of corruption. The future of this Country is in your hands. Anywhere you find yourself, try and contribute your quota to the development of your host communities.
“The SAED programme is very important at this particular point in time. The white collar jobs are not available anymore. Pay attention to SAED. We have a lot of opportunities from CBN and other organizations for corps members to be self employed.”
He warned the corps members to be security conscious at all time and respect the culture of their host communities. His words: “I want you to respect the culture of your host communities. Also during your primary assignment, avoid unnecessary journeys and night parties. Be security conscious, wherever you are going, move in group. Transform your host communities better than the way you met it.”
In her remarks, the Akwa Ibom NYSC State Coordinator, Lady Ngozi Chukwuka, gave the gender distribution of corps members in camp to include 1194 males and 1057 females. She said: “We have had some transformation. The gigantic pavilion was built by the state government under 12 days. The state government has been complementing our efforts. About 30 toilets and 30 bathrooms are being constructed by the state government.
“We also have highly motivated staff in Akwa Ibom state. We have in-house training to make our staffs are developed.”
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Kazaure is NYSC DG
Brig-Gen. Sule Zakari Kazaure yesterday took over as the National Youth Service Corps’ (NYSC) 17th director-general, with a promise to prioritise the welfare of corps members and workers.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Abuja, the new director-general said: “I know that the tasks ahead are enormous and the road is rough, but with unity of purpose, we will make progress.”
The former NYSC boss, Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, said the agitation to have the monthly allowance of corps members increased would soon yield result.
He urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the process.
“You may not be aware that letters have been written, with a follow-up to the appropriate authorities on the need for the proper funding of the scheme, especially now that the corps population is over 260,000.
”We have also brought to government attention the urgent need to increase some allowances due to members and recent response suggests a strong ray of light at the end of the tunnel.”
He noted that the scheme secured a N150 million sponsorship deal with GLOBACOM.
“The Community Development Services and Special Projects (CDS & SP) department is working with the company to enable the two organisations sign an MoU for the scheme to access the fund.
Olawumi urged workers to extend the cooperation he enjoyed during his stay in the scheme to the new DG to achieve the desired result.
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NYSC-DG must hear this!
SIR: I decided to stay anonymous because the NYSC’s oath of allegiance does not allow corps members to grant interviews or make press statements. I believe NYSC officials are using that as a cover to extort corps members.
The 2015 Batch A is coming to an end soon as they are on the last three weeks terminal leave. NYSC Lagos State has instructed and placed all outgoing corps members under compulsion to pay a N1000 for NYSC magazine. As if that is not enough, corps members are also under compulsion to pay an extra N500 for NYSC Foundation. Now, all corps members in the Local Government Areas in Lagos have been told to pay the money or risk the seizure of their NYSC certificate.
At a period when we are trying to cleanse and rid this country of corruption, it is unfortunate that this is rearing its ugly head. Lagos State has since stopped the state allowance to corps members and to worsen things, it now extorts from the meagre N19,800 we get from the federal government. We may not have a voice because we are under oath, but I believe that our voice can still be heard, even if anonymously.
This is a cry for help. Injury to one is injury to all. This is happening in my LGA in Ikeja and I believe and know that it is happening in other local governments too. Please save our soul.
- Anonymous,
Ikeja, Lagos.
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Be agents of transformation, NYSC DG urges corps members
…says kidnapping, raping, not targeted at only corps members
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig Gen. Johnson Olawumi, has also charged corps members to key into the change mantra of government by being agents of transformation in the various communities they find themselves during their service year.
Speaking at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos, the NYSC DG called on the corps members to embrace value re-orientation, while cautioning them against making comments that could put the image of the country in bad light.
He further disclosed that efforts are being put in place to enlist some financial institutions and establishments, which would enable corps members to access loans worth about N2billion to set up their businesses in a bid to reduce youth unemployment.
He urged the corps members to take advantage of opportunity which requires only their NYSC discharge certificate as collateral.
And in another development, Olawumi says the recent kidnapping and raping of corps members in the country are not solely targeted on them, but a coincidence.
Olawumi stated this during his visit to the Oyo State NYSC orientation camp in Iseyin.
He said: “Whatever case of kidnapping or rape that people might have heard concerning corps members in the past few months, it did not happen to them because they are corps members but a general type of crime that is happening across the country.
“We are working hand in hand with states government and security agencies to ensure the safety of corps members. During the last general elections that was very turbulent, no corps members was injured or lost his or her life. That shows that we are concerned about their safety. I pledged that adequate security will be provided for corps members.”
He assured that the well-being and safety of the corps members would not be compromised in the course of serving the nation.
The NYSC boss also appealed to the corps members to take full advantage of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program in order to become self-employed after their service year.
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NYSC DG: corps member’s killing painful
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Director-General (DG) Brig-Gen Johnson Olawunmi yesterday described as painful the killing of a female corps member, Yetunde Shukurat, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
He spoke with reporters at the closing ceremony of the orientation course for the 2015 batch of Lagos Corps members at the NYSC Camp in Iyana-Ipaja.
Olawunmi said the Corps places premium on Corps members’ security.
He said: “Corps members need to get themselves integrated in the host communities where they are serving. They can do this by learning the language of the community in which they are serving; learning the people’s culture and putting in efforts in terms of community service. They must know the community and let the community know them; that for us is the first step to ensure adequate security for Corps members.”
The DG said the Kwara State security agencies have arrested some people and charged them to court for the Corps member’s death. “We will continue to do as much as we can to ensure the security of lives and properties of these Corps members,” he said.
Olawunmi urged Corps members to be change agents and imbibe good value, “Very soon, you will be called to drive the change,” he said.
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Don’t vent your anger on corps members —NYSC DG tells politicians
The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Johnson Olawunmi, has called on politicians and their supporters not to vent their frustration on corp members working as ad-hoc staff for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A total of 4, 500 corps members are expected to work as ad-hoc staff during Saturday’s governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Rivers State.
The DG on his separate visits to the Air Force Commander at the 97 Special Operations Unit, Air Commodore Olusegun Philips, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Hossiah Karma, said the lives of corps members must be considered valuable.
He told the Commissioner of Police, Hossiah Karma, that he was in Rivers State over the outbreak of violence that trailed the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections, during which corps members were harassed and molested in different parts of the state.
He said: “We at the NYSC are making a passionate appeal to the military, police and other security agencies to help protect the lives of corpers working with INEC during the election on Saturday. Rivers State is a flashpoint. Therefore, we do not want any harm done to these children.
“Politicians should please call their supporters to order. They should warn them not to cause violence or inflict any harm on corps members who are on national assignment. They must never vent their anger or frustrations on these innocent young men and women.”
Responding, the Air Force commander and police boss assured the DG that more than ever before, the security of corps members who would work for INEC during the polls in the state would be given top priority.
“Collectively, we must ensure that corps members are safe at their places of assignment and also safely return to their bases. They are very precious to the entire nation and so nobody must attempt to endanger or snatch their lives,” they pledged.
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Polls: NYSC DG warns corps members against inducement
THE Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, has called on corps members, who are participating in Saturday elections to shun any form of inducement or gratification for the sake of their safety and credibility.
He told them to see their involvement in the election as patriotism and part of their contribution to national development, stressing that the little allowances given to them should be accepted wholeheartedly without cutting corners.
The director-general spoke in Kaduna while sensitising corps members on the need to be security conscious in addition to security arrangement put in place by the scheme in conjunction with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Brig.-Gen. Olawumi, who was represented by NYSC’s Director of Procurement, Alhaji Bashir Salisu Yakasai, said the corps members’ total money for elections allowances was N26,000, payable directly to them by INEC through INEC/NYSC collaboration account.
He warned: “I urge you to be vigilant, behave very well and adhered to rules and regulations of the scheme. No form of inducement or gratification should be accepted by you.
“It is not the matter of how much paid or collected, but patriotism and service to the country. And to compliment that, we have made tangible arrangement with security agencies for protection before, during and after the election,” he stated.
The State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Hilary Nasamu, revealed that participating corps members were doing it on voluntary ground, and not that they have been forced into it.
He added that their best was expected to play out during the polls.
Nasamu, however, appealed to the citizens to give corps members maximum cooperation and protection during the gubernatorial and state assembly election on Saturday.