Addressing officials, Coordinator Hajiya Aisha Mohammed stressed the need for exemplary behavior, urging officials to uphold discipline throughout the orientation period.

She specifically cautioned against excessive socialization with corps members, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a professional relationship.

“Working in synergy will make the corps members borrow a leaf from you and participate actively in all camp activities,” she said.

Mohammed urged personnel to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations governing the orientation course, highlighting the role of officials in setting a positive example for young participants.

Furthermore, she called for collaboration between security agents and camp officials to ensure a safe and productive environment. Camp Commandant, Capt.

AS Musa echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the significance of teamwork for the successful execution of the exercise and reaffirming the commitment of security agencies to camp security.

He advised them to initiate and execute good projects that will improve the well-being of their hosts.

The DG stated this while addressing Corps members during his visit to NYSC Bayelsa State Permanent Orientation Camp in Boro, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state, as well as those at the Delta State Orientation Camp in Isele-Uku.

He added that one of the four cardinal programmes of the Scheme, Community Development Service (CDS), was designed to improve the standard of living of the public.

General Ahmed also tasked the Corps members to be security conscious at all times and enjoined them not to indulge in anything that can expose them to danger.

‘You must be security conscious at all times. Avoid late-night movements and don’t travel at night. Avoid lone movements and don’t board vehicles by the roadside. If you are travelling, go to designated motor parks.

When travelling and once it is six in the evening, break your journey and pass the night in any military or police barrack, Corps Lodge, NYSC formations and other safe places”, he said.

The NYSC Bayelsa State Coordinator, Mrs Obiageli Okpalifo informed the Director General that the general conduct of the Corps members has been impressive.

She added that all the registered 1,159 Corps members made up of 576 males and 583 females, in conjunction with the concerted efforts of the diligent camp officials have made all activities very seamless.

NYSC Delta State Coordinator, Mr Olusegun Alao informed the DG that the synergy between the entire camp officials and the cooperation of 1,905 Corps members consisting of 891 males and 1,014 females have been tremendously impressive.

This information was provided by Lead Economist Elena Glinskaya of the World Bank’s Youth Employment and Skills Development Unit during a formal visit to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.

The team leader of the World Bank group added that the vocational training that corps members are exposed to while at the orientation camp has helped a significant number of them to become self-reliant while praising the National Youth Service Corps for incorporating Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development into the Orientation Course programme.

She stated that the team was also interested in learning from NYSC’s vast knowledge and experience in youth empowerment.

“Anyone who is working on issues of youth employment in Nigeria must learn about the NYSC programme. This is a well established programme that has helped youths, and we will like to know as much as possible about your programme”, she said.

The National Youth Service Corps’ Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, responded by stating that the program was created to advance integration and national harmony.

The empowerment of corps members with vocational skills while at the orientation center, according to Ahmed, has been a key initiative of NYSC since 2012. As a result, thousands of former corps members are now independent in a variety of professions all over the nation.

The advancement of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme of the Scheme is one of the focal points of his five-point policy push, he informed the World Bank team.

He reiterated his administration’s strong determination to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship and self-reliance among the corps members.

The Director General thereafter applauded the World Bank team for the kind gesture of assistance.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, the INEC Chairman’s chief press secretary, gave this assurance according to The Punch.

A corps member complained on social media on Wednesday that NYSC participants stationed in Enugu State had not received their election allowance and would therefore not take part in the governorship and state assembly elections on Saturday.

In response, Oyekanmi stated that monies had already been transferred to its state offices and pleaded with the corps members to be patient throughout the process.

He explained that “Adequate provision has been made for all National Youth Service Corps members and other ad-hoc staff engaged for the 2023 General Election as per their allowances.

“In fact, at the Commission’s meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners on Monday, the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu told the RECs to ensure that all ad-hoc staff are paid all the allowances due to them. The funds for the allowances are already with our respective state offices. If there are delays in payment, it is likely to be due to minor administrative issues.

“We urge all corps members who were duly engaged who worked on Election Day and may have not been paid to please be patient. They will get their allowances.”

Acting Director-General of the NYSC, Mrs Charity Uba made the call at a one-day Corps Employers Workshop organised by the scheme in Owerri, on Friday.

The workshop, themed “Achieving Improved Productivity of Corps Members Through Enhanced Welfare And Security During The Service Year,” was aimed at reviewing the operations of the scheme and identifying areas of low performance with a view to proffering realistic solutions.

The acting DG was represented by the Head of Inspection in the NYSC, Mr Christopher Eze, who thanked corps employers for their efforts at preserving the ideals of the scheme.

Some of the challenges confronting corps members according to her include economic recession, insecurity, lack of accommodation at the Places of Primary Assignment, inadequate remuneration and lack of transit hostels at the state and local council levels.

According to her, the workshop would review the roles of corps employers in achieving the objectives of the scheme and improving the existing relationship between the scheme, corps employers and corps members.

She said: “The unquantifiable of the education and energy imbued in these youths can best be harnessed only when enabling environment is created for them to effectively make their contributions.

“The dearth of welfare and good security for corps members is the bane of improved productivity hence the need to restore the dignity of the service year and sustain the productivity of corps members.

“Together we have held the torch of unity high. We have remained the willing giants upon whose copious shoulders Nigerian youths have stood proudly to peer into a beckoning future.”

Earlier in a welcome address, the coordinator of the NYSC in Imo, Mrs Rachael Idaewor said that the workshop would also be organised in each of the other two senatorial districts of the state.

It said the non-performance of some stakeholders is adversely impeding the effective performance of the scheme.

The FCT Minister, Alhaji Muhammad Musa Bello, stated this in his address on Thursday while declaring open the 2022 NYSC National Governing Board Meeting with the 36 chairmen of the NYSC State Governing Boards, including FCT, held in Abuja.

He said NYSC is a strategic national institution that has continued to remain relevant by harnessing the potential of corps members for national development.

The Minister, who was represented by the Chairman, NYSC FCT Governing Board, and Mandate Secretary, Hajia Hadiza Muhammed Kabir, commended the performances of successive batches of corps members during national assignments like elections, immunization against polio, hepatitis, meningitis, population, and housing census among others.

He added the Federal Capital Territory Administration would continue to perform its statutory roles for NYSC.

“My administration has approved the construction of a new Permanent Orientation Camp in Kwali, while a new Secretariat Complex is also underway in pursuance of this administration’s determination to ease the operations of the Scheme in the FCT.

“I have also issued a directive against the prevalent challenge of Corps Members within the FCT so reduce the prevalent challenge of Corps rejection which is of a great challenge to the Management of the Scheme.

“May I reiterate that NYSC Scheme is the responsibility of governments at all levels and must not be in the care of only one,” the FCT Minister said.

Alhaji Bello stated further that one of the key responsibilities of all tiers of government is to ensure that youths are enabled with veritable platforms to contribute their quota to national development while also preparing them for future leadership roles.Alhaji Bello stated further that one of the key responsibilities of all tiers of government is to ensure that youths are enabled with veritable platforms to contribute their quota to national development while also preparing them for future leadership roles.

He added that NYSC provides the platform and should therefore be supported by all concerned stakeholders to achieve its mandate. He urged participants at the meeting to evolve strategic ideas that will elicit improved stakeholders’ performance in discharging their constitutional roles to the Scheme.

Brigadier General Mohammed Fadah, Director-General, NYSC, gave the warning on Sunday while addressing corps members deployed to Yobe State at the Permanent Orientation Camp in Dazigau, Nangere Local Government Area of Yobe State.

He reminded them that, “The orientation camp is like a semi regimented environment, please, conduct yourselves in an orderly manner and be good ambassadors of the scheme”.

Brig. Gen. Fadah also added that the NYSC scheme has zero tolerance for cultism while admonishing them to also shun misuse of social media.

“Avoid night journeys, unnecessary seeking for lifts and joining vehicles at unofficial designated parks”, he warned.

Mrs Hafsat Yerima, the State Coordinator NYSC Yobe State, on her part congratulated the director-general for the appointment and visit to the orientation camp in his home state.

She informed the visiting NYSC boss that in Yobe State a total of 1,185 corps members have been registered for the orientation course.

NYSC also warned corp members to desist from unauthorised journeys and night trips which will minimise the risk of road traffic accidents.

This warning was given by Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim, Director General of the NYSC during the terminal parade and closing ceremony of the 2022 Batch A, Stream I orientation course at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Ede.

Represented by Winifred Shokpeka, the Osun NYSC State Coordinator, General Ibrahim also called on serving corps members to always avoid engagements that place them at risk.

Warning that the NYSC will not condone social vices such as drug abuse and trafficking, cybercrime and advanced fee fraud, the NYSC boss disclosed that any corps members caught will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the NYSC Bye-laws.

“I enjoin you to be law-abiding at all times and be good ambassadors of the NYSC and your families. You are strongly advised to use social media for positive purposes instead of promoting rumours, fake news, hatred as well as ethnic jingoism.

“To greatly minimise the risk of road traffic accidents, you are expected to always cut short your trips from six o’clock in the evening and pass the night at military barracks and other locations officially designated as safe

“You are strongly advised to avoid boarding vehicles at locations other than officially approved motor parks to avoid falling prey to criminals disguising as commercial vehicle drivers.”

Recall that Director-General of the scheme, Brig. Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim had on Thursday, said corps members are part of the National Defence Policy of Nigeria and can be mobilised for war when the need arises.

The NYSC DG made the assertion during a programme on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ while reacting to the moves by the National Assembly to scrap the scheme.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the NYSC Deputy Director (Publications), Emeka Mgbemena on behalf of the Director (Press and Public Relations), Adenike Adeyemi.

According to the statement, the NYSC DG’s comment was misconstrued, stressing that rather than what is making the rounds on social media, the DG said, “In line with the National Defence Policy, corps members are like soldiers on reserve, because of their education, exposure and sophistication, can make them easily adaptable to military training.

“He charged them to remain focused and patriotic, and for the spirit of NYSC to live in all Nigerians.

“General Ibrahim never at any point said the corps members are being mobilised to fight a war.

“The scheme shall continue to safeguard the interest of corps members at all times.”

The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier-General Shuaibu Ibrahim made this announcement on Monday.

He, however, assured that the NYSC has intensified liaison with security agencies for to ensure the security of corps members wherever they are serving in the country.

He said with the annual mobilisation of over 300,000 corps members, the NYSC no doubt, “remains the most critical platform for mentoring Nigerian youths as drivers of national unity and development.”

“I wish to use this opportunity to again express our gratitude to the security agencies and other stakeholders for their support. Furthermore, the scheme has concluded arrangement with the NHIS for the enrolment of corps members into the NHIS in line with a presidential directive. We have also expended huge resources on critical health needs of corps members, including footing of medical bills,” he added.