By Our Reporter
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Coordinator in Enugu State, Mr Sam Ujogu has raised concern over the security of corps members in the state.
Ujogu disclosed this on Wednesday in Enugu during the NYSC Corps Employers’ Workshop.
He said that the security of corps members in all the local government areas of the state was an issue that must always receive adequate attention.
“We have to deliberate on practical means of protecting corps members from harassment from unscrupulous elements in the communities where they are serving.
“Also, the issue of sexual assault on female corps members demands our urgent attention in order to uphold the public confidence in the scheme,” he said.
The state coordinator commended the state government for setting the pace in its absorbing capacity of corps members and for making their welfare priority.
He applauded all corps employers who had provided conducive environment for corps members sent to them but appealed to them to do more.
Ujogu, however, said that much still needed to be done to improve the welfare of corps members deployed to the state.
According to him, there is need for expansion of accommodation facilities at the orientation camp, considering the geometric annual increase in the population of corps members deployed to the state.
“I urge all participants to critically examine these and sundry issues and proffer solutions in order to guarantee optimum performance of corps members in the state,” Ujogu said.
Also, the NYSC Director General, Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, said that the workshop served as an avenue for exchange of ideas that would help to improve the scheme.
Ibrahim was represented by the Director, NYSC, South-East Area Office, Mrs Ngozi Nwatarali.
He said that the young men and women on national service had been positioned as change agents and key contributors to the development of Nigeria through ideas from such fora.
The director general said that the workshop would, thus, generate ideas that would enable the scheme to continually weather the prevailing storms of Coronavirus, security and others.
He appealed to corps employers not to aid and abet corps members in their organisations to commit infractions contrary to their rules of engagement.
“The comfort of corps members during the orientation programme is one of the key corps welfare provisions.
“Accordingly, management has continued to sensitise state governments on the need to provide adequate facilities in the camps,” he said.
Ibrahim appealed to corps employers to further demonstrate appreciation of the services of corps members by providing permanent employment to them, irrespective of their states of origin.
In a goodwill message, the Enugu State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Manfred Nzekwe, said that the scheme had done well by providing manpower in schools in the rural areas.
Nzekwe said that the state government had made concerted efforts to provide conducive environment for the corps members and discouraged their rejection in places of primary assignment.
Ikengaonline reports that the workshop which held simultaneously in all states of the federation has its theme as, ‘ Optimising the NYSC/Corps Employers’ Partnership for National Development in the context of the New Normal’.
