By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC), Brig. Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed has said that the scheme has received assurance from security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the safety of corps members during the 2023 general elections.
The NYSC DG stated this in Minna, the Niger State capital when he presided over the closing ceremony of the 2023 Batch A Stream I orientation course held at the Paiko Orientation camp.
“As you are aware, the 2023 General Elections are around the corner. As was the case with the previous elections conducted from 2008, Corps members will form the majority of ad hoc personnel that will be enlisted for the conduct of the exercise.
“As you get set to partake in this important national assignment, I would like to assure you that we have secured the commitment of the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies regarding your welfare and safety before, during, and after the elections,” he said.
The DG stressed that the safety and welfare of corps members top the list of priorities of the current management of the NYSC.
“We recently unveiled our policy thrust, the most important one of which is to ensure the safety and welfare of corps members and staff.
“We also intend to intensify and improve on the capacity of staff, strengthen skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development and lastly, we have identified research as an important factor in moving the scheme forward,” he said.
The DG urged the Corps members to remain committed and abide diligently with the provisions of the NYSC ACT and Bye-Laws as they embark on their mandatory one-year service.
“In keeping with the objectives of the scheme, you are expected to integrate into your host communities while also appreciating and respecting their cultures. You must desist from meddling in local politics,” he warned.
Speaking further, the DG commended the management of the NYSC in Niger state for the successful conduct of the orientation exercise.
To the corps members, he said “I have received impressive reports on your participation in the entrepreneurial training conducted in Camp under the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program.
“I encourage you to build on the skills acquired by availing yourselves of opportunities for post-camp training as this will go a long way in empowering you for self-reliance.
“On our part, we will continue to liaise with financial institutions and other stakeholders to provide start-up loans to enable you to actualize your business dreams. I assure you that management will continue to explore avenues for optimizing the impact of the program,”
Earlier in his address, the Niger State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr.Mahmud Hassan Taura, said that the NYSC had registered 1,090 corps members during the orientation exercise.
“The corp members exhibited a high sense of discipline and responsibility during the orientation course,” he added.
Taura, while appreciating the NYSC DG for his continued support of the scheme in the state said that the management has been able to address some of the infrastructural challenges in the state NYSC camp.
“We have also renewed our appeal to the Niger State Government. We were given an assurance by the government for the commencement of renovations in the camp. We are hopeful that this pledge will be redeemed,” he said.
