Yemi Obafemi
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has announced that employers who fail to provide accommodation and transportation for corps members posted to their organisations will be blacklisted from benefiting from the services of the Scheme.
General Nafiu made the declaration during an interactive session with corps members in Lokoja, Kogi State, as part of his official working visit to the state.
He said the measure was aimed at improving the welfare of corps members, while reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring their security and well-being throughout the service year.
The NYSC Director-General also appealed to state and local governments, as well as other stakeholders, to strengthen their support for the Scheme in order to enhance the welfare and safety of corps members nationwide.
Speaking on security, Nafiu reminded corps members that safeguarding lives and property is a collective responsibility, urging them to promptly report suspicious activities to relevant security agencies.
He further advised them to remain disciplined, dedicated to their primary assignments, and avoid misconduct, noting that they represent their families, alma maters and the NYSC wherever they serve.
The Director-General also encouraged corps members to actively participate in the post-camp Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to master their chosen vocational skills before the completion of their service year.
According to him, embracing entrepreneurship and small-scale businesses would help corps members become self-reliant and financially independent.
“Be proactive, identify business opportunities within your host communities, and start making some money for yourselves even now,” Nafiu said.
Acknowledging the country’s economic challenges, he urged corps members to cultivate a savings culture and manage their finances prudently throughout the service year.
“Take your service year as a training ground for future financial management by managing your finances wisely,” he added.
Earlier, the NYSC Kogi State Coordinator, Mrs. Tochi Chika Chris-Moneke, appreciated the Director-General for the visit, describing it as a demonstration of his commitment to the welfare and security of corps members and staff.
She disclosed that the state secretariat was preparing to organise a Corps Employers’ Workshop and a Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme in the coming weeks.
