Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) Governing Board Chairman, Ambassador Fatima Bala Abubakar, has expressed concern over the non-completion of some facilities at the Ebonyi State Orientation Camp in Afikpo, Ebonyi State.
Ambassador Abubakar stated this while addressing the state NYSC officials and corps members of the Batch B stream 1 at the scheme’s Permanent Orientation Camp, Old MacGregor College in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
She said her visit with the members of the board was to know how the corps members were fairing in the state and to inspect the facilities within the camp.
She said: “We came to know how you are feeling, to know the way you are fairing in the orientation camp since you came in here. We are also here to inspect the facilities in the camp.
“It’s our tradition that whenever we go round in any state orientation camp like this, after, we try to book an appointment to see the executive governor of the state,” the Board Chairman said.
She however expressed concern about the dilapidated nature of some facilities in the camp, calling for government intervention to make it a conducive environment for the corps members and NYSC officials.
Ambassador Abubakar said, she learnt from the State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Bamai Mercy, that there were myriads of problems in the orientation camp and expressed optimism that the state government would be able to tackle some challenges after reaching out to him.
“I have heard from the coordinator this morning, and she has mentioned a myriad of problems. The first thing that disturbed my spirit immediately I came here, is the condition of this your hall. It’s not conducive, and I’m just wondering is this still under construction?” She said.
The Board Chairman urged the corps members to be security-conscious and also to keep the NYSC rules always while rendering service to the nation.
“I urge you to be conscious of security in this place. I’m confident that in the camp, there are many security agents here, but be conscious of security, by making sure you don’t go outside the camp.
“It’s because we have adequate security in the camp but when you go out there, nobody will take care of you there. You should keep on being security conscious, being dutiful, and obedient to the instructions given to you by the coordinator, staff and supporting staff that are working in this camp,” she advised.
While wishing the corps members a successful service to the nation, Ambassador Abubakar urged them to acquire skills to make a better livelihood.
The NYSC National Board Chairman with her team later proceeded to pay a courtesy call to the state governor, David Umahi, at the Old Government House Abakaliki.
The Board Chairman commended the state government’s interventions to ensure the success of the NYSC in the state.
She listed the interventions to include provision of a permanent orientation camp at Afikpo, the NYSC Complex office in Abakaliki town, rehabilitation of some dilapidated infrastructure, construction of concrete based road network leading to the camp, installation of solar street light in the orientation camp and the restoration of the NYSC Rice Mill to the management.
She, however, called for the establishment of a state governing board to strengthen the existing relationship with the state government, completion of projects at the permanent orientation camp, and improvement of the welfare of Corp members serving in the state to enhance their performance, among other requests.
“We are pleading with the state government to make the orientation camp to be more conducive for Corps members by establishing a state governing board and also to complete some of the projects in the camp facility, especially, the multipurpose hall, the parade ground and camp officials hostels,” she said.
Responding, Governor David Umahi, represented by his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe, noted that his administration had been partnering with the NYSC since 2015 when he assumed office.
He assured the members of the National governing board of the government’s commitment to the welfare of corps members and promised to ensure the establishment of the state governing board for the NYSC before the end of his administration.
Umahi said his administration has been known for the culture of completing its projects, maintaining that every project at the permanent orientation camp would be completed in due time while reassuring the welfare of Corp members in the state is of utmost importance to his government.
Earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Bamai Mercy, disclosed that a total of 1,356 Corp members, comprising 235 males and 1,121 females, were registered for the 2022 Batch ‘B’ Stream ‘1’ in the state.
She stated that the camp activities have been moving successfully, but noted the irregular payment of allowances to corps members serving in state agencies as one of the challenges facing the scheme in the state.
She equally expressed concern about some dilapidated structures in the camp, and appealed for assistance from the relevant authorities to improve the infrastructural status of the orientation camp.
