Prioritise corps members’ welfare, security, NYSC urges employers
The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) on Tuesday urged corps employers in Gombe State to ensure proper welfare for corps members in their organisations.
The Director, NYSC North East Area Office, Alhaji Ahidjo Yahaya, said this at a one-day workshop for corps employers in Gombe State.
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Yahaya said that the workshop as part of measures to enhance the welfare and security of corps members serving in the state.
Speaking to participants, Yahaya said the workshop became imperative in view of the emerging challenges that the scheme and critical stakeholders face in contemporary time.
Yahaya, represented by Mr Oketade Michael, the Assistant Director, Corps Inspection, NYSC North East Area Office, Bauchi said corps employers were critical stakeholders in efforts to ensure improved welfare and security of corps members.
He commended the state governments and private partners who have consistently supported the scheme in the task of building “a new generation of loyal, committed, patriotic and independent youths in our country.”
Yahaya reiterated that employers have the obligation to ensure that corps members serving in their organisations were well taken care of and to ensure that the corps members carry out their assignments too.
“In the course of their primary assignment, employers are expected to make statutory welfare provisions for the corps members, including transportation, accommodation with minimal furnishing among other provisions that will help boost their morale.
“I therefore, make a passionate appeal to corps employers to pay particular attention to corps members posted to their organisations by according them the same treatment given to their permanent staff.”
The NYSC zonal official also urged employers to apply appropriate sanctions on corps members whenever they are found wanting and report such acts of wrong doings to the NYSC management.
“Note that you are empowered to query corps members when the need arises and forward same to the state coordinator,’’ he said.
Yahaya also advised employers to appreciate the services of corps members by providing them with permanent employment after their service year as a strategy for national integration.
Also speaking, Mr Adamu Pantami, Commissioner of Youths and Sports Development said NYSC had made significant contribution to the unity and development of Nigeria within the last 50 years.
Pantami, represented by Mohammed Kolo, said the workshop has provided opportunity for stakeholders to brainstorm ways to address challenges affecting the welfare and security of corps members in the state.
He urged participants to put to use whatever they had been taught as such was the essence of the workshop.
On his part, Mr Dawut Jidda, the Gombe State NYSC coordinator, said the participants were drawn from all local government areas.
Jidda appealed to corps members serving in the state to put in their best towards ensuring that corps employers also get good services for taking care of them.
A participant, Mr Usman Loddo, NYSC Desk Officer, Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe said the workshop was a welcomed development in the effort to boost corps members’ welfare.
Loddo said the workshop would also address the challenge of truancy from corps members.
He said they were no fewer than 70 corps members being engaged by his organisation, adding that “I can tell you that majority of them were provided decent accommodation at our staff quarters.”
He stated that his organisation used to pay corps members some stipends, but stopped due to the economic challenges being faced in the country.
Loddo said however, the organisation was working on ways to reintroduce a stipend for the corps members.
Our correspondent reports that the theme of the workshop is “Deepening Corps Employers’ Participation Towards Improved Welfare and Security of Corps Members”.
