The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) said it is stepping up efforts to ensure the security of Corps Members.
This was even as it appealed to State Governments and other NYSC stakeholders in the country to support the Scheme in its efforts to consolidate its achievements in the last fifty years.
The NYSC Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, stated this while giving his address at the Management meeting with representatives of the State Government in Abuja.
He stressed that the safety of Corps Members in all locations remains the top priority of the Scheme, adding, “We are stepping up our liaison with security agencies who have been supportive and State and Local Governments, as well as other stakeholders such as traditional rulers, religious and community leaders must play their expected roles in securing the Corps Members”.
Given the dangers associated with night journeys, the DG said the Management has been sensitizing both prospective and serving Corps Members on the need to stop night journeys.
“As a matter of urgent concern, l appeal to State Governments to initiate policies in this direction, to reachout to the Corps Producing Institutions, other stakeholders including transport companies in their States to stop conveying Corps Members to various locations during night hours,” he stressed.
The Director General also warned Corps Members against embarking on night journeys, advising them to cut their journey by 6:00 pm and, “pass the night at Corps Lodges, military formations, police stations and other places officially designated safe and continue the following day.”
On the other hand, the DG noted that while the Federal Government shoulders the greater part of running the Scheme, the NYSC Act saddles both the State and Local Governments with complimentary responsibilities like the provision of Orientation Camps, Corps Transit Lodges, Office Accommodation, and other forms of intervention that are essential for the welfare of Corps Members and smooth conduct of the Scheme’s operations.
To this end, he urged State Governments to establish NYSC State and Local Government Governing Boards to ease the operations of the Scheme in the States.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then