The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Muhammad Bello has disclosed that the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, is the responsibility of Governments at all levels and must not be left in the care of only one.
The Minister said that NYSC is a strategic national institution which has continued to remain relevant through harnessing the potentials of corps members for the development of the country.
The Minister stated this on Tuesday while declaring open the 2022 ‘Meeting of the NYSC National Governing Board with Chairmen of NYSC State Governing Boards’ in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The minister while speaking on the challenges of the Scheme said that visible declining support of some stakeholders such as States and Local Governments has adversely impeded the effective performance of the Scheme.
“Many of these stakeholders relegate their roles to the Federal Government which is saddled with its enormous responsibilities, with the erroneous belief that the NYSC is a Federal Government responsibility.
“Let me also remind all that one of the key responsibilities of all tiers of government is to ensure that the youths are enabled with veritable platforms to contribute their quota to national development while also preparing them for future leadership roles. The NYSC provides this platform and should therefore be supported by all concerned stakeholders to achieve its mandate” he said.
The Minister said that the Scheme’s sustained contributions to national growth is evident across all spheres of the country’s economy such as education, agriculture, infrastructural development, health, general office administration among others.
He also identified the engagement of the Corps members in the conduct of national programmes such as elections, population and housing census, immunization against polio, hepatitis, meningitis just to mention but a few.
According to him, the Federal Capital Territory has continuously benefitted in no small measure from these services/activities which are also replicated in all the States of the Federation.
The minister stated that in recognition of the Scheme’s sustained contributions to National growth, the Federal Capital Administration in addition to performing its statutory roles, has consistently supported the NYSC in its smooth operations. Notable is the provision of Permanent Orientation Camp, office accommodation, timely release of subvention, assistance with financial intervention and other resources when required.
“My administration has approved the construction of a new Permanent Orientation Camp in Kwali, while a new secretariat complex is also underway in pursuance of this administration’s determination to ease the operations of the Scheme in the FCT.
“For efficient operations and in line with the NYSC Act, I recently appointed the FCT NYSC Governing Board Chairman in the person of Haj Hadiza Mohammed Kabir.
“I have also issued a directive against rejection of Corps Members within the FCT to reduce the prevalent challenge of Corps rejection across the country, which is of a great concern to the Management of the Scheme”.
He said that their level of commitment in performing their given responsibilities is central to the success or otherwise of the Scheme.
He therefore called on all State Governments to rally round the NYSC Scheme by providing enabling environment that will guarantee its success for the benefit of the country.
Stimulating greater synergy
In her address, the NYSC National Governing Board Chairman, Ambassador Fatima Abubakar stated that the meeting is organized to stimulate greater synergy between the National Governing Board of the NYSC and their counterparts at the State level for the advancement of the Scheme’s operations.
According to her, the scheme has in its 49 years of operation achieved a lot in contributing to the socio-economic development of the country, but a lot more needs to be done to enable it fully accomplish its objectives.
“This can only be achieved when stakeholders in all tiers of the Government perform their obligations to the Scheme”.
She stated that the Scheme has witnessed negligence and lack of commitment in areas such as the provision of Permanent Orientation Camps, upgrade of facilities in orientation camps, establishment of NYSC State Governing Boards and Local Government Committees, payment of State allowances to Corps Members, release of the statutory State subvention to the NYSC secretariats, provision of office accommodation for NYSC State secretariats, provision of corps lodges amongst others which in turn hampers the smooth conduct of their operamongst
Mrs Abubakar noted that some stakeholders such as the Federal Government and a number of States are functional in the discharge of their obligations to the Scheme, the performance of several others leave much to be desired in their functions and statutory obligations to the Scheme as stipulated by the Act.
This may have been borne out of the erroneous impression that NYSC is only the Federal Government’s responsibility.
She commended the Federal Government and some stakeholders who have lived up to their responsibilities by their unrelenting supports and also called on those who fall below expectations to reinvigorate their commitment for better performance.
In his vote of thanks, the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Muhammad Fadah commended the State Governments that have been performing their statutory responsibilities to the the Scheme and also appealed to others to put in more efforts.
Emmanuel Ukoh
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