95,000 members mobilized for 2011 NYSC programme - DG

95,000 members mobilized for 2011 NYSC programme - DG
GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna
Thursday, June 23, 2011


No fewer than 95, 000 graduates are to be mobilized for the 2011 Batch ‘B’ National Youth Service Corps’ (NYSC) one-year compulsory national service, the NYSC Director-General, Gen. Muharazu Tsiga, has said.
He said it was the first time in the 38 years of the scheme’s existence that such a high number would be mobilized.

The NYSC DG dropped the hint in Kaduna yesterday while speaking at the 2011 Batch ‘B’ Pre-Orientation Workshop, saying that the scheme was witnessing growth in the number of corps members mobilization by the day. Tsiga, however, called on all state and local governments of the federation to rise up and support the scheme with the provision of adequate facilities, welfare and security of the corps members who were out to serve their fatherland diligently and contribute immensely to the development of the country.

“With our recent experience, the need for construction of corpers’ lodges in the state capital and local government areas in the country for security and welfare of corps members has become imperative,” he added.
He also disclosed that management had resolved to intensify efforts through advocacy and called on the presidency to issue necessary directives to states and local governments to live up to their responsibilities of providing necessary facilities to NYSC as enshrined in the Act establishing the scheme.

While noting that the need to re-strategize approach to corps members’ welfare, discipline, security, and orientation course programme became highly imperative, General Tsiga said all stakeholders of the scheme would collectively fashion out far-reaching resolutions capable of turning around the fortunes of the scheme, for the overall development of Nigeria. Tsiga added that the workshop would re-appraise the scheme’s past experiences in the previous orientation courses with the aim of improving on the challenges facing the scheme, especially in the area of national insecurity as it affects corps members, fake corps members, temporary camps, rejection of corps members among many other challenges.

He however expressed appreciation to the Kaduna State Government for its continuous support to the scheme, especially in the area of prompt release of state subvention, construction of additional two blocks of female hostels in the orientation camp among others and called on other state governments to emulate such gesture.
Declaring the workshop open, the Governor of Kaduna State, Mr. Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa said the government would not relent in its support to NYSC, considering the role the scheme had played in uniting the nation and contributing to its development since inception.

Governor Yakowa who was represented on the occasion by his deputy, Alhaji Mukthar Ramalan Yero, particularly commended the scheme for its heroic role in conducting credible 2011 general elections, just as he prayed for the repose of the souls of corps members that lost their lives to the unfortunate post election violence.