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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has appealed to some State Governors to support the scheme in the provision of Permanent Orientation Camps and upgrading of facilities in the camps across the country.
The scheme also hinged the neglects witnessed in some states on the erroneous impression that NYSC is the responsibility of only the federal government.
Chairman NYSC National Governing Board, Amb Fatima Balla Abubakar, made the appeal at the meeting of the Board held yesterday in Abuja.
According to her, other areas of neglect hampering the smooth conduct of operations, include payment of State allowances to corps members, release of the statutory state subvention to the NYSC Secretariats, provision of office accommodation for NYSC State Secretariats, and provision of corps Lodges.
Her words: “you will agree with me that the scheme has in its 49 years of operation achieved a lot in contributing to the socio-economic development of the country, but a lot more need to be done to enable it fully accomplish its objectives. This can only be achieved when stakeholders in all tiers of the government perform their obligations to the Scheme.”
“Let me note here that while some stakeholders such as the federal government and a number of States are functional in the discharge of their obligations to the Scheme, the performance of several others leave much to be desired as they abdicate their functions and statutory obligations to the scheme as stipulated by the Act.
“This may have been borne out of the erroneous impression that NYSC is only the Federal Government’s responsibility. We have thus witnesses negligence and lack of commitment in areas such as the provision of Permanent Orientation Camps, and upgrade of facilities in Orientation Camps.
“Others include establishment of NYSC State Governing Boards and Local Government Committees, payment of State allowances to corps members, release of the statutory State Subvention to the NYSC Secretariats, provision of office accommodation for NYSC State Secretariats, provision of corps Lodges amongst others which hamper the smooth conduct of our operations.”
Setting the agenda for the meeting and commending stakeholders for coming to the aids of the scheme, she said: “this meeting will therefore focus on these areas of concern and adopt possible ways of galvanizing the required synergy and supports from the concerned stakeholders.
“I wish to express our profound gratitude to our stakeholders who have lived up to their responsibilities and encourage them to sustain the tempo, particularly the federal government and some States for their unrelenting supports. We appreciate prompt provision of resources for the smooth operations of the scheme by the federal government while on the other hand, call on those who fall below expectations to reinvigorate their commitment for better performance
“May I also appeal to all state government to accord recognition to the provisions of the NYSC enabling Act and inaugurate State Governing Boards and Local Government Committees to enable effective performance at all levels,” she charged.
Declaring the event open, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Musa Bello, warned agencies and establishments against rejection of corps members posted for primary assignments.
His words: “In recognition of this, the Federal Capital Administration in addition to performing its statutory roles, has consistently supported the NYSC in its smooth operations. Notable is the provision of Permanent Orientation Camp, Office accommodation, timely release of subvention, assistance with financial intervention and other resources when required.
“As I speak, my administration has approved the construction of a new Permanent Orientation Camp in Kwali, while a new Secretariat Complex is also underway in pursuance of this administration’s determination to ease the operations of the Scheme in the FCT.
“For efficient operations and in line with the NYSC Act, recently appointed the FCT NYSC Governing Board Chairman in the person of Haj Hadiza Mohammed Kabir. I have also issued a directive against rejection of corps members within the FCT to reduce the prevalent challenge of corps rejection across the country, which is of a great concern to the management of the scheme.”
