Grace Omachoko
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has expressed concern over the rejection of corps members by some employers in the North-East region.
The NYSC director in charge of the zone, Garinvwa Ishaya, stated this at a one-day corps employers’ forum, in Yola, themed: “Deepening Corps Employers Participation towards Improved Welfare And Security of Corps Members”.
According to him, the trend is discouraging to the corps members and the scheme, noting that corps members should be accorded enabling environments in their places of primary assignment to enhance their contribution to the social and economic development of the country.
“The scheme was established to add value to our socio-economic development as a nation and it has made tremendous impact in further uniting the country.
“We passionately appeal to the employers to always accept corps members deployed to their organisations for prosperity of the scheme and the nation at large.
“Employers are expected to make statutory welfare provisions for corps members to cover their transportation and accommodation,” he said.
He therefore, urged state governments to provide decent accommodation for the corps members and sought the support of local council chairmen towards promoting the objectives of the scheme.
Earlier, the NYSC state coordinator in Adamawa, said the forum would enable the participants to brainstorm and exchange ideas on implementing its mandate as well as getting feedback on the scheme.
The NYSC North-East zonal office is supervising Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, Yobe and Borno respectively.