November 17, (THEWILL) – The Director General (DG) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, has tasked employers of corps members to ensure adequate provision of welfare packages for those posted to their organisations.
The DG said this on Wednesday during his keynote address at the 2021 Corps Employers’ Workshop in Uyo.
Ibrahim, who was represented by Mrs Jane Okpongette, NYSC assistant director in the state, said the workshop is an avenue to exchange ideas on how to improve the scheme’s operations nationwide.
He stated that employers are expected to make statutory welfare provisions for the corps members posted to them.
The DG reminded corps employers of an existing circular prohibiting the rejection of corps members by government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
He urged them to always make adequate budgetary provisions for the welfare of corps members rather than rejecting them.
“Since the inception of the scheme, the NYSC Management/Corps Employers’ Forum has enabled both parties to continually enhance our capacity for effective engagement of corps members.
“We are thus able to position the young men and women on National Service as change agents and key contributors to the development of the country.
“This forum will also obtain feedback from the strategic stakeholders on the strength, weaknesses and potentials of the scheme as well as chart ways of strengthening its operations.
“In the course of primary assignment, which is the second phase of the Service, employers are expected to make some statutory welfare provisions for the corps members,” Ibrahim said.
Ibrahim warned employers against aiding and abetting absenteeism and abscondment of corps members, stressing that employers found wanting would be penalised.
He also urged corps employers to encourage corps members towards accessing quality post-camp training to enable them actualise their business dreams.
The NYSC Akwa Ibom state coordinator, Mrs Chinyere Ekwe, in her address charged corps employers to come up with ideas that would proffer solutions to the challenges confronting corps administration.
Ekwe, who was also represented by Okpongette, charged corps employers to leverage the opportunities provided by the workshop to express the difficulties experienced in managing corps members posted to them.
She commended the some corps employers for their efforts towards meeting the welfare needs of corps members and urged others to follow suit.
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