The management of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in Ondo State has directed all its 18 Local Government Inspectors to establish Corpers Fund for COVID -19 in their respective council areas.
According to a statement issued by the state co-ordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, the idea came as a result of the cash donation of March allowance by a corps member, Israel Arogbonlo to support Ondo State Government towards eradication of coronavirus in the state.
In the statement, Akpabio said Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, while appreciating the corps member suggested the establishment of the fund which according to him would encourage many other corps members who would like to be part of history.
Akpabio, in outlining the modalities for the fund, asserted that contributions and or donations by corps members should be voluntary.
“Let me make it abundantly clear to all the Zonal and Local Government Inspectors that this noble idea should not be forced on corps members but freewill contributions and donations to complement the State Government in her fight against COVID -19.
“In view of the above, all Zonal and Local Government Inspectors are directed to give this information in their various WhatsApp groups so that interested corps members can voluntarily contribute to the Fund,” she said.
The NYSC boss, while directing that all records of contributions should be transparently and meticulously kept, advised the field officers to involve leadership of various Community Development Service groups in the administration of monies and donations collected.
“The project is mainly and basically for the corps members, so I expect you as field officers to involve the leadership of various Community Development Service groups in the administration of whatever is realised or collected to fight the Coronavirus pandemic to a standstill in the state,” she instructed.
The donation which should be collected between now and April ending, according to the state coordinator, would be paid into a dedicated account which had already been made available to the field officers for onward transmission to the corps members.
The donations, after collation, will be presented by the representatives of the corps members to the governor to cushion the effects of coronavirus pandemic in the state.
As at the time of filing this report, almost all the Local Government Inspectors in the State have informed all their corps members and concluded plans to implement the directives in line with the advice of Governor Akeredolu.
Some of the Community Development Service group coordinators said they had set the machinery in motion through teleconferencing and other new media platforms to inform their colleagues.
