NYSC to Introduce Skills Acquisition Programme

NYSC to Introduce Skills Acquisition Programme

Sadeeq Aliyu
18 July 2011

The Director General of National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) Brigadier General Mahrazu Tsiga has said that plans are underway by the scheme to introduce a skills acquisition programme to empower corps members after their service year.

Brigadier Tsiga, who said this in Kano while on inspection tour of orientation camps across the country, said the directorate has already written to government on the matter and that corps members have been asked to carry out feasibility studies on businesses of their choice.

He said any corps member, who is committed to the programme would be given N250, 000 as take up grant, saying the gesture would reduce dependence on government.

Tsiga assured that the new monthly allowance of N19,800 will be effective from this month, and that the 2010 Batch 'B' corps members would be given four months arrears of the new package. He called on states and local governments to ensure prompt payment of corps members allowances, saying it is a right not a privilege. He maintained that the Act establishing the scheme stipulates that governments and stake holders must pay allowances to corps members.

He added that corps members are not supposed to pay for their accommodation, saying where there is no accommodation, the employers should give the corps members money to pay for it.