The Director-General (DG) National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, on Monday, warned that corps members who relocated from their initial state of deployment or stage-managed their rejection are automatically disqualified from winning the honours award.
This was even as he told corps members that the selection process for the award is transparent.
He stated this while addressing the 2021 Batch ‘B’ Stream One Corps Members at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Amada, Gombe, State.
“To qualify for NYSC honours award you must not relocate, you must not reject posting to your Place of Primary Assignment (PPA), you must get approval from the NYSC for the project you want to embark upon. Equally, you must have won the state honours award before you can qualify for nomination for the president’s NYSC honours award.
“Also note that you are not expected to spend your money to execute any project,” he said.
According to him, grading for the honours award starts from the orientation camp adding that potential winners must excel in all the four cardinal programmes of the Scheme.
These include; Orientation Course, Primary Assignment, Community Development Service and Winding-up/Passing-Out programme.
ALSO READ: Shekarau’s five-month-old daughter dies, buried in Dubai
The DG, who tasked corps members on diligence, dedication, loyalty, efficiency, patriotism, punctuality, teamwork assured that not only was the selection process transparent but also handled by a committee of Nigerians with proven integrity from both the public and private sectors.
Speaking on Community Development Service, Ibrahim urged Corps Members to study the felt needs of their host communities and execute projects that would uplift the living standard of the people.
He, however, advised them to obtain approval from the NYSC before embarking on such projects.
He warned that NYSC policy does not allow Corps Members to execute projects with their personal money, but such money should be sourced from within their host communities.
“Try to distinguish yourselves and do things that will be memorable after your service year like your predecessors.” the DG stated.
He also advised them to embrace the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme of the Scheme which was designed to empower them for self-employment and wealth creation, instead of seeking unavailable salaried jobs.
The Director-General added that the Scheme has partnered with relevant institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Industry, Access Bank, NYSC Foundation, among others to provide soft loans to Corps Members in order to establish their businesses.
Ibrahim also reiterated that efforts are ongoing to establish the NYSC Trust Fund which would provide start-up capital for Corps Members as they exit service.
During the Swearing-in ceremony, a total of 1,365 Prospective Corps Members comprising 650 males and 715 females took the Oath of Allegiance which was administered by Hon. Justice Muazu Abdulkadir Pindiga.
and then