The great NYSC crime cover-up
By Peter Nkanga
July 31, 2011 12:34AM
Almost a year after officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrested and prosecuted 69 fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members rounded up at an illegal NYSC orientation camp in Keffi, Nassarawa State, the suspected organisers of the camp, believed to be high-ranking NYSC officials, are still walking free and are being shielded from investigation and prosecution by the leadership of the service, NEXT investigation has shown.
Highly-placed sources in the NSCDC and the police said while the ‘fake corpers’ who are more or less victims of the corrupt and mercantile tendencies of some NYSC officials, have been disgraced and convicted, the NYSC director-general, Maharazu Tsiga, a serving Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army, has made it impossible for operatives of the NSDC and the police to bring the suspected masterminds behind the illegal camp to book.
NEXT learnt that the NYSC boss has used his military links to block investigations into the matter and has spurned requests by the police to interrogate some of his staff implicated in the scandal.
The 69 ‘fake corpers’ including a nursing mother, were apprehended on July 26, 2010 when NSCDC operators swooped on their camp in a remote location in Nassarawa State. They were immediately arraigned before a Keffi Upper Area Court, which, in August 2010, sentenced each of them to three years imprisonment, with an option of a N10,000 fine.
The culprits, who acknowledged that they were not eligible to participate in the one-year compulsory national service, however confessed that they each paid between N70,000 and N150,000 to suspected NYSC agents across the country to procure fake NYSC call-up letters to the fake camp, believed by security agents to have been in existence for many years before last year’s raid.
One NSCDC personnel who partook in the raid, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the criminal syndicate behind the camp even had police officers attached to the place in an apparent bid to make it pass for the real thing.
Blocking investigations
Since the raid, NEXT learnt that the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja and the headquarters of the NSCDC have laboured vigorously to get to the root of the matter and uncover those behind the fake camp. Our investigation indicates that Mr Tsiga has effectively frustrated the investigations by failing to release his staff named in the scam to the investigating officers for questioning.
Before running into the brick wall erected against their work by the NYSC boss and his officials, detectives of the two security agencies were able to identify at least four staff at the NYSC head office in Abuja. Those identified are Idris Y. Abubakar, Mwangwi Kingsley, Ahmed Alhassan, and one Abraham, commonly known as AB, as having a case to answer.
The NSCDC operative, who did not want his name mentioned for fear that he might be punished, said his agency passed the report of its investigation to both the leadership of the NYSC and the anti-fraud unit of the police. He said his team had to give up the chase of the suspected NYSC officials after the leadership of the youth service scheme “became very hostile” to investigators, and wouldn’t allow access to suspects.
But while the NSCDC has surrendered, the police have continued the chase, but are becoming increasingly frustrated as well. An officer privy to the investigation said the inquiry was not making any headway either “because of the recalcitrant attitude of the NYSC DG.” Mr Tsiga has shown clearly on at least two occasions that he was not keen on security agents unravelling those behind the crime. In November 2010, the Police wrote to the NYSC boss requesting him to release the four suspects who are members of his staff for interrogation. In the letter (seen our reporter) he was also requested to supply documents and other details needed to help in their investigation. Mr Tsiga did not respond, despite the letter being received and acknowledged in his office.
After a four-month wait for Mr Tsiga’s response, the police again wrote to the NYSC boss in March 2011, reminding him of their request for his cooperation in interrogating the brains behind the criminal syndicate in his organisation. Mr Tsiga still refused to reply or render assistance, thus undermining the police’s effort to unravel the crime.
“We have since realised that he has no respect for the police,” lamented a top police officer in Abuja. “We do not know whether he has anything to hide in this matter. But it is clear he does not want this investigation. Or maybe he is playing for time, believing that with time, the investigation will be swept under the carpet and forgotten.”
Shielding Mr Tsiga
Numerous attempts to reach Mr Tsiga for his comments were rebuffed by NYSC officials. At one time in late June, he was said to be attending a conference in Kaduna State. Upon his return the following week, the NYSC spokesperson, Mercy Kolajo, was again contacted. She however declined comment, saying “It is only the DG who can speak officially on this issue. I cannot say anything unless he gives clearance.” Instead of making efforts to put our reporter in touch with Mr Tsiga, she merely referred him to Mr Tsiga’s protocol officer, identified as Mr Yusuf, who was to facilitate audience with the army general, but he refused after being briefed of the matter.
“This is a sensitive issue which I don’t think I am in a position to handle. NYSC has a Public Relations Unit, which handles such matters. This kind of issue should not have been brought to me,” Mr Yusuf said. “They are the ones who should facilitate your seeing the DG. They should know better. I’ll have to refer you back there.” With the way our reporter was tossed around by officials for several weeks, it appears the NYSC head office, located in the Maitama district of Abuja, is being run in a military commando style, where no one is willing to present any perceived ‘bad news’ before the General. However, after a recent visit to the place, Hillary Nasamu, an administration official attached to Mr Tsiga, denied that any staff of the NYSC was involved in any criminal act.
“Why would an NYSC officer be involved? Even by the imagination of the most naive person, what would an NYSC person benefit from a fake camp?” Mr Nasamu said.
He also denied knowledge of any letter written to his boss by the police on the matter. “No, No, No, there is none,” Mr Nasamu said. “At least I should know because I work with the DG. Such information would have come in. There is nothing like that. That I know very well.” But our investigation was able to establish that the police letters were indeed delivered and properly acknowledged at Mr Tsiga’s office.
The police also appear reluctant to speak on the record in this matter. When our reporter first contacted him, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Yemi Ajayi, requested that the enquiry be e-mailed directly to him. But on receiving the questions, he said he was not competent to speak on the matter. He directed all enquiries to the Force Public Relations Officer, Sola Amore, who could not be reached as at the time the paper was to go to press.
An organised crime
The police and NSCDC operatives who spoke to us said organising fake NYSC camps had for long been a lucrative side-business for some staff of the scheme.
The suspects operated the parallel orientation camp in Nasarawa State where they provide complete NYSC kits to about 300 fake youth corps members assembled from all over Nigeria. These would also be given letters to fraudulently serve in organisations and subsequently obtain NYSC discharge certificates.
“As an organised crime, the whole exercise is a syndicate thing made up of a cartel all over the country with agents both in the tertiary institutions, NYSC Office and so on,” NSCDC national spokesperson, Emmanuel Okeh, said when the news of the Nasarawa fake camp first broke last year.
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Boko Haram - NYSC Spends N4 Million on Corps Members' Relocation
Boko Haram - NYSC Spends N4 Million on Corps Members' Relocation
Abdulkareem Haruna
28 July 2011
Maiduguri — National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) may have spent about N4 million on transportation to get the 2011 Batch 'B' Corp members out of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in view of the insecurity caused by the continuing Boko Haram insurgence.
But NYSC authorities in the state said the circumstance that warranted the total redeployment of the Corps members had been exaggerated beyond the real situation on ground.
NYSC Coordinator for Borno State, Nuhu Kwage, who was not specific about the actual cost of transporting the freshly oriented youth corps members out of Maiduguri to their respective states of origin, said "it will cost the NYSC not less than N4 million."
Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General, Maharazu Tsiga, had two weeks ago ordered that in view of the security challenges in the state, he could not allow the corps members to remain in the state that is being fled by even the residents.
Speaking to Journalists during the closing of the Batch 'B' Orientation in Maiduguri, Kwage commended the courage of the corps
Members, who, despite the pressures from their respective homes kept calm till the end of the two weeks orientation exercise.
"About 140 Corps members that participated in the orientation exercise that just concluded have surprisingly lobbied to be left to remain; so we have posted them to areas outside the crisis zone in the state. But interestingly some of them have even lobbied from outside this camp to be posted to Maiduguri where everyone sees as a hot zone. And this may not be unconnected by the fact that the JTF Commander, had come to assure them that their security is guaranteed because the attacks going on in town is targeted at government and not on private individuals."
He added that "this situation is highly exaggerated and that was why it was difficult for us to convince outsiders that things were calm here in the camp; but those of who are here know that it was not the whole of Borno State that is faced with the crisis; the whole of the crisis being reported happened only within Maiduguri and some little part of Jere, which are only two out of the 27 local government areas of the state." As at the closure of camp, about 93 buses from the public transport were rented to convey the Corps members to their respective states where they are expected to spend two weeks break before reporting for their new postings.
Abdulkareem Haruna
28 July 2011
Maiduguri — National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) may have spent about N4 million on transportation to get the 2011 Batch 'B' Corp members out of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in view of the insecurity caused by the continuing Boko Haram insurgence.
But NYSC authorities in the state said the circumstance that warranted the total redeployment of the Corps members had been exaggerated beyond the real situation on ground.
NYSC Coordinator for Borno State, Nuhu Kwage, who was not specific about the actual cost of transporting the freshly oriented youth corps members out of Maiduguri to their respective states of origin, said "it will cost the NYSC not less than N4 million."
Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General, Maharazu Tsiga, had two weeks ago ordered that in view of the security challenges in the state, he could not allow the corps members to remain in the state that is being fled by even the residents.
Speaking to Journalists during the closing of the Batch 'B' Orientation in Maiduguri, Kwage commended the courage of the corps
Members, who, despite the pressures from their respective homes kept calm till the end of the two weeks orientation exercise.
"About 140 Corps members that participated in the orientation exercise that just concluded have surprisingly lobbied to be left to remain; so we have posted them to areas outside the crisis zone in the state. But interestingly some of them have even lobbied from outside this camp to be posted to Maiduguri where everyone sees as a hot zone. And this may not be unconnected by the fact that the JTF Commander, had come to assure them that their security is guaranteed because the attacks going on in town is targeted at government and not on private individuals."
He added that "this situation is highly exaggerated and that was why it was difficult for us to convince outsiders that things were calm here in the camp; but those of who are here know that it was not the whole of Borno State that is faced with the crisis; the whole of the crisis being reported happened only within Maiduguri and some little part of Jere, which are only two out of the 27 local government areas of the state." As at the closure of camp, about 93 buses from the public transport were rented to convey the Corps members to their respective states where they are expected to spend two weeks break before reporting for their new postings.
NYSC Redeploys 82 Corps Members From Bauchi
NYSC Redeploys 82 Corps Members From Bauchi
28 July 2011
No fewer than 82 of the 620 corps members deployed to Bauchi State for the current service year have been redeployed to other states.
The NYSC coordinator in the state, Mr Abraham Tizhe, who spoke with newsmen at the orientation camp in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state, said during the programme, more than 300 corps members applied for redeployment to other states. He said that he and other NYSC officials had to counsel and assure them that the state would be conducive for them. He said after that, 200 of them withdrew their applications for redeployment.
Tizhe assured the corps members that security agencies had taken necessary measures to secure their lives and property, and urged them to avoid any act that could tarnish their image. He advised them to shun partisan politics and respect the tradition and culture of their host communities.
In his message, Governor Isa Yuguda assured the corps members that government had put in place all necessary measures to ensure their security and welfare.
28 July 2011
No fewer than 82 of the 620 corps members deployed to Bauchi State for the current service year have been redeployed to other states.
The NYSC coordinator in the state, Mr Abraham Tizhe, who spoke with newsmen at the orientation camp in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state, said during the programme, more than 300 corps members applied for redeployment to other states. He said that he and other NYSC officials had to counsel and assure them that the state would be conducive for them. He said after that, 200 of them withdrew their applications for redeployment.
Tizhe assured the corps members that security agencies had taken necessary measures to secure their lives and property, and urged them to avoid any act that could tarnish their image. He advised them to shun partisan politics and respect the tradition and culture of their host communities.
In his message, Governor Isa Yuguda assured the corps members that government had put in place all necessary measures to ensure their security and welfare.
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Ahmed, Yuguda Assure Corps Members of Their Safety
Ahmed, Yuguda Assure Corps Members of Their Safety
Dele Moses, Ilorin And Patience Ogbodo
26 July 2011
Bauchi — Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has assured corps members serving in the state security of their lives and properties.
Ahmed gave the assurance on Tuesday at the closing ceremony of the orientation course for the 2011 Batch 'B' corps members in the state at the orientation camp in Yikpata, Edu local government area of the state.
He said that his administration has put in place adequate security arrangement to ensure that the corps members and all other people in the state are safe.
He stated: "We are all aware of the security threats to the corporate existence of this country, therefore, my administration has put adequate apparatus in place to checkmate it, and also to ensure adequate protection of lives and properties in the state extending to our corps members deployed to the state".
"The state government will not renege on its earlier promises of building additional hostels on camp, perimeter fencing, provision of more functional vehicle and ensuring the repairs of the five out of the six bore holes that were shallowly dug to facilitate the operations of the scheme in the state," he assured.
The state coordinator of NYSC, Ngozi Ezekwe, commended the state government for its support to the scheme and reiterated commitment of the NYSC to the development of the state.
However, Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda has charged local government council chairmen to ensure that all corps members posted to their respective areas were adequately protected.
Isa Yuguda gave the charge on Tuesday during the close of the orientation exercise of the corps members held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation camp, Wailo.
The Governor also reiterated the commitment of his administration to the wellbeing and security of the corps members.
He called on them to report to the security agents any suspicious movements around them for prompt action.
Yuguda, who was represented by the State Head of Civil Service, Abdon Dalla Gin, urged the corps members to report to government through their secretariat any council chairman, who refused to cooperate with them, as according to him, "government is committed to ensure that the corps members have a successful service year in the state".
He, however, advised them to ensure that they embarked on developmental projects and programmes that would make their service year memorable and useful for posterity.
Dele Moses, Ilorin And Patience Ogbodo
26 July 2011
Bauchi — Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has assured corps members serving in the state security of their lives and properties.
Ahmed gave the assurance on Tuesday at the closing ceremony of the orientation course for the 2011 Batch 'B' corps members in the state at the orientation camp in Yikpata, Edu local government area of the state.
He said that his administration has put in place adequate security arrangement to ensure that the corps members and all other people in the state are safe.
He stated: "We are all aware of the security threats to the corporate existence of this country, therefore, my administration has put adequate apparatus in place to checkmate it, and also to ensure adequate protection of lives and properties in the state extending to our corps members deployed to the state".
"The state government will not renege on its earlier promises of building additional hostels on camp, perimeter fencing, provision of more functional vehicle and ensuring the repairs of the five out of the six bore holes that were shallowly dug to facilitate the operations of the scheme in the state," he assured.
The state coordinator of NYSC, Ngozi Ezekwe, commended the state government for its support to the scheme and reiterated commitment of the NYSC to the development of the state.
However, Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda has charged local government council chairmen to ensure that all corps members posted to their respective areas were adequately protected.
Isa Yuguda gave the charge on Tuesday during the close of the orientation exercise of the corps members held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation camp, Wailo.
The Governor also reiterated the commitment of his administration to the wellbeing and security of the corps members.
He called on them to report to the security agents any suspicious movements around them for prompt action.
Yuguda, who was represented by the State Head of Civil Service, Abdon Dalla Gin, urged the corps members to report to government through their secretariat any council chairman, who refused to cooperate with them, as according to him, "government is committed to ensure that the corps members have a successful service year in the state".
He, however, advised them to ensure that they embarked on developmental projects and programmes that would make their service year memorable and useful for posterity.
Monday, 25 July 2011
Youth minister to restructure NYSC
Youth minister to restructure NYSC
JULY 25, 2011
BY CALEB AYANSINA
ABUJA- The Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, weekend, promised to reform the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, to make it more effective and efficient.
Abdullahi said, the essence of the reform was also to make the NYSC play major role in the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
The minister, who disclosed this during his visit to the NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa, FCT, pledged to take the scheme to the next level and ensure it fulfilled current needs and expectations of the country.
The minister described youths as greatest asset of the country and promised to create a platform that would make them harness their potentials.
The minister also pledged to give prompt attention to the welfare of youths in the country.
He said: “Our greatest resource is not oil, but you, the youths. For us in the Ministry, we will continue to engage and create platform to harness potentials of our youth.
“We will add more innovations to the scheme (NYSC) in a way that will bring returns not only to Nigeria, but also to corps members that are participating in the scheme.”
JULY 25, 2011
BY CALEB AYANSINA
ABUJA- The Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, weekend, promised to reform the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, to make it more effective and efficient.
Abdullahi said, the essence of the reform was also to make the NYSC play major role in the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
The minister, who disclosed this during his visit to the NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa, FCT, pledged to take the scheme to the next level and ensure it fulfilled current needs and expectations of the country.
The minister described youths as greatest asset of the country and promised to create a platform that would make them harness their potentials.
The minister also pledged to give prompt attention to the welfare of youths in the country.
He said: “Our greatest resource is not oil, but you, the youths. For us in the Ministry, we will continue to engage and create platform to harness potentials of our youth.
“We will add more innovations to the scheme (NYSC) in a way that will bring returns not only to Nigeria, but also to corps members that are participating in the scheme.”
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Tension, mixed feelings as 622 fresh corps members arrive Bauchi
Tension, mixed feelings as 622 fresh corps members arrive Bauchi
JULY 19, 2011
By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
IN the wake of the brutal murder of 10 corps members in Bauchi State, many parents, especially in the Southern part of Nigeria, had vowed not to let their children serve in the state if they are posted there by the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC. As far as these parents were concerned, Bauchi was no longer a safe place to live, especially if you are a stranger.
This was a sentiment shared by several other people in the country, including many state government officials in the South. So, it was not surprising when there arose strident calls that the NYSC should not post corps members to Bauchi State.
But the state government had moved to douse the anger and tension generated by that ugly incident by assuring concerned parents that it was committed to protecting the lives of corps members under its care.
As if the NYSC has indeed taken the government’s words for it, 633 young graduates were posted to Bauchi State to participate in the 2011/2012 Batch ‘B’ service year. The NYSC state Coordinator, Mr Ibrahim Tzihe, confirmed that 620 corps members were registered for the exercise.
The corps members recently swore an oath of allegiance at the NYSC Wailo Orientation Camp in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state where government once again assured them of adequate security in the state throughout their service.
The State Governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Aminu Saleh, said: “The State Government is using this occasion to acknowledge the sacrifice made by corps members during the recently concluded general elections, to the extent that some of them paid the supreme price.
We want to assure corps members that the perpetrators of the hideous crime shall all be brought to justice”.
The Governor who noted that activities of the NYSC scheme have positively affected the socio-economic development of the country, stressed that the scheme has served as a unifying factor for religious, ethnic and cultural differences.
But in spite of these words of comfort, most of the corp members present wore worried faces.
When Vanguard Metro spoke to some of the visibly troubled corps members, they strongly appealed to the Bauchi State Government to provide adequate security measures to safeguard their lives during the service year.
They expressed mixed feelings about their posting to Bauchi State, with most unable to hide their fear of the tragic fate that befell some of their colleagues during the April post-election violence.
The corps members said that even though it was impossible to change what had happened in the past, they were still sceptical about the ability of government to protect them from attack, particularly in the local government areas, where, it is alleged, most of the violence took place.
Modesta Ugo, a Batch B corps member from Kogi State said she was initially not happy when she was posted to Bauchi State for her service year, but had to accept her posting as the will of God for her life.
She said: “It took me time to come in terms with fact that I was being posted to a state where some of my colleagues lost their lives. Even though we do not pray for evil, I pray I complete my service year without problems”.
The corps member called on all the security agents in the state to provide maximum security for corp members so that they will not fall victim to blood-thirsty miscreants.
Another corps member, Bode Oloruwajun from Ondo State, said he initially intended to apply for a change of posting to another state, but had to change his mind following persuasions from his parents to take his posting to Bauchi in good faith.
“I changed my mind because my parents persuaded me to serve in Bauchi. They told me that it is only God that can guarantee adequate security and I should be prayerful,” he said.
But Josephine Michael said she intends to apply for redeployment back to Abuja, because she did not feel secured serving in the state.
According to her: “I just feel insecure here, so I must work my redeployment to where I feel safe. My parents are in support of this”.
JULY 19, 2011
By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
IN the wake of the brutal murder of 10 corps members in Bauchi State, many parents, especially in the Southern part of Nigeria, had vowed not to let their children serve in the state if they are posted there by the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC. As far as these parents were concerned, Bauchi was no longer a safe place to live, especially if you are a stranger.
This was a sentiment shared by several other people in the country, including many state government officials in the South. So, it was not surprising when there arose strident calls that the NYSC should not post corps members to Bauchi State.
But the state government had moved to douse the anger and tension generated by that ugly incident by assuring concerned parents that it was committed to protecting the lives of corps members under its care.
As if the NYSC has indeed taken the government’s words for it, 633 young graduates were posted to Bauchi State to participate in the 2011/2012 Batch ‘B’ service year. The NYSC state Coordinator, Mr Ibrahim Tzihe, confirmed that 620 corps members were registered for the exercise.
The corps members recently swore an oath of allegiance at the NYSC Wailo Orientation Camp in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state where government once again assured them of adequate security in the state throughout their service.
The State Governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Aminu Saleh, said: “The State Government is using this occasion to acknowledge the sacrifice made by corps members during the recently concluded general elections, to the extent that some of them paid the supreme price.
We want to assure corps members that the perpetrators of the hideous crime shall all be brought to justice”.
The Governor who noted that activities of the NYSC scheme have positively affected the socio-economic development of the country, stressed that the scheme has served as a unifying factor for religious, ethnic and cultural differences.
But in spite of these words of comfort, most of the corp members present wore worried faces.
When Vanguard Metro spoke to some of the visibly troubled corps members, they strongly appealed to the Bauchi State Government to provide adequate security measures to safeguard their lives during the service year.
They expressed mixed feelings about their posting to Bauchi State, with most unable to hide their fear of the tragic fate that befell some of their colleagues during the April post-election violence.
The corps members said that even though it was impossible to change what had happened in the past, they were still sceptical about the ability of government to protect them from attack, particularly in the local government areas, where, it is alleged, most of the violence took place.
Modesta Ugo, a Batch B corps member from Kogi State said she was initially not happy when she was posted to Bauchi State for her service year, but had to accept her posting as the will of God for her life.
She said: “It took me time to come in terms with fact that I was being posted to a state where some of my colleagues lost their lives. Even though we do not pray for evil, I pray I complete my service year without problems”.
The corps member called on all the security agents in the state to provide maximum security for corp members so that they will not fall victim to blood-thirsty miscreants.
Another corps member, Bode Oloruwajun from Ondo State, said he initially intended to apply for a change of posting to another state, but had to change his mind following persuasions from his parents to take his posting to Bauchi in good faith.
“I changed my mind because my parents persuaded me to serve in Bauchi. They told me that it is only God that can guarantee adequate security and I should be prayerful,” he said.
But Josephine Michael said she intends to apply for redeployment back to Abuja, because she did not feel secured serving in the state.
According to her: “I just feel insecure here, so I must work my redeployment to where I feel safe. My parents are in support of this”.
Monday, 18 July 2011
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.
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.
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