GOVERNOR Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has said his administration will commence payment of all outstanding state allowances owed corps members in the state in August 2018.Al-Makura made this known on Monday at the Dan Yamusa Orientation camp in Keffi local government area of the state during the closing ceremony of the orientation exercise for the 2018 Batch B Stream I corps members deployed to the state.
The corps members in the state are been owed their state allowances prompting an appeal by the NYSC management in the state during the swearing-in ceremony of the corps members for the allowances to be paid.
Al-Makura, represented by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Silas Agara, said the calls for the payment of the allowances had reached the state government whom according to him will commence payment of all allowances owed corps members who served and currently serving in the state before the end of August.
“Let me use this opportunity to address some challenges our corps members, those that have served and those currently serving have gone through. It has come to government attention that corps members allowances are not been paid as at when due. Some have not been paid at all.
“We have taken proactive measures to ensure that all corps members affected are paid as when due from this August. So I want to assure you all that as you go to resume in your host communities, your allowances will reach before the end of this month,” He said.
Al-Makura explained that to facilitate the payments and other issues concerning corps members, a Special Adviser to the governor has been appointed to liaise with NYSC management in the state on how to facilitate the allowances and communicate on other welfare of corps members.
“I have appointed a special adviser to take charge of this schedule and ensure that allowances are paid to all corps members owed. Also regarding the state of accommodation in the camp, we will be interfacing with the state coordinator on what we can do to tackle that challenge,” He said.
The governor, however, called on corps members to explore the diverse agricultural potentials in the state so as to have an alternative means of livelihood, contribute to the development of host communities and key into government’s commitment geared towards stimulating the agricultural sector with a view to diversifying the country’s economy.
“As you are posted to your various places of primary assignments, I call on you to use the opportunities to utilize these natural resources as a means for providing for yourselves alternative means of livelihood for self-reliance,” He said.
Al-Makura revealed that the state possessed about 90 per cent of the total solid minerals in the country which if properly tapped could make corps members employers of labour and assist in the development of the state.
“I urge you all to explore the agriculture and mineral potentials in the state to key into government’s commitment towards revitalising the economy,” He said.
He pledged to ensure that all corps members who engaged in community projects were duly rewarded and honoured by the state government, to encourage future corps members to emulate.
The governor also urged them to integrate freely with members of their host communities and exhibit exemplary character that would endear them to their hosts even after their service year.
Earlier, Mrs Zainab Isah, the state NYSC Coordinator, thanked the governor for prioritising the welfare of corps members in the state and providing a conducive environment for them to carry out their national assignment.
She said that for the period of the orientation exercise, the corps members behaved well and no serious health challenge was recorded.
“We did not record any serious health problem especially regarding the health of corps members. It is pertinent to also report that these batch of corps members behaved very well and obeyed camp rules and regulations. They displayed a very high sense of patriotism and commitment during the exercise,” she said.
Isah then urged the corps members to take full advantage of the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) training learnt in camp to be self-reliant and step it down in their host communities so as to engage them and help in the eradication of poverty in the state.
“I challenge you to go out there and become entrepreneurs and employers of labour and not job seekers. I also urge you to step the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship programme down to your host communities to help in eradicating poverty,” She said.
She said that the batch comprised 1053 females and 10077 males reflecting the six geographical zones of the country.
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