The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Area Coordinator for the Southwest geopolitical zone, Mr. Emmanuel Danjuma Attah, has urged stakeholders of the scheme in Ondo State not to waver in their responsibility to the youth organisation.
The area coordinator who was accompanied by the state coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, and management staff of the secretariat said that like Oliver Twist, the scheme would continue to look up to the stakeholders to make the implementation of policy achievable.
Speaking with the Commissioner of Police at the Command Headquarters, the Area Coordinator said that the Nigeria Police remained a protective agency for all the corps members serving in all the states of the federation.
Responding, the Commissioner of Police, Adie Undie, promised that his command would not waiver in its absolute support to the scheme in Ondo State.
At the 323 Owena Cantonment of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Mr. Attah was full of praises for the Nigerian Army for the cover and protection provided for the corps members during the last general elections.
He said that he was amazed at the speed of response received from the cantonment when distress call was sent to the barracks, which according to him ‘saved NYSC and indeed Nigeria the traumatic experience that would have been witnessed but for the timely intervention.
The Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Zakari Logun Abubakar, disclosed that Nigerian Army and NYSC were like Siamese twins, and any services rendered, either security or otherwise would stand or be counted as gains of the Nigerian Army.
The Brigade Commander announced that three ex corps members who observed their primary assignment with the cantonment and distinguished themselves during the service year were recently commissioned into the Nigerian Army on the recommendation of the Owena cantonment.
At the R.11 Sector Commander’s office of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Attah appreciated the command for implementing the policy agreement entered into last year between the Corps Marshall, FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, and the Director General, NYSC, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim.
According to him, reports reaching him from all the states in the Southwest geopolitical zone indicated that corps members were prevented from travelling in the nights during the Christmas and new year festive period.
The Sector Commander, FRSC, Corps Commander Rotimi Adeleye explained that the tripartite arrangement with NYSC and notable road unions such as National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employee Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) produced effective results to checkmate the youthful exuberance of corps members who preferred to travel in the night.
Corps Commander Rotimi Adeleye disclosed that the FRSC had just relaxed Save Living policy of the corps nationwide in which intensive surveillance was mounted on all the major roads of the country during the yuletide season.
While commending the Ondo State command of the Department of State Services, Mr. Emmanuel Danjuma, Attah said that the quality of officers sent to camp during orientation course exercises had made the bad eggs ‘who knows nothing than to give the noble scheme bad image to sit tight’.
Responding, the State Director of Security, Mr. Emmanuel Esomonu, appreciated the area coordinator and his team for the call.
Mr. Esomonu expressed confidence that the symbiotic relationship between the two agencies of the Federal Government would continue to produce results in line with best global practice.
At the office of the Governor of Ondo State where the area coordinator met separately with the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Joel Ale and Head of Service, Mr. Oluwadare Aragbaiye respectively, he appealed to the top most officers to use their clout and position of authority to attract more favour to the scheme in the state.
While applauding the state government described as one of the major stakeholders for restoring the state subvention and the release of brand new operational vehicle to the secretariat, he made passionate appeal to the government to give the scheme the premises that presently housing the Akure Zonal Office as permanent Secretariat Complex in the state.
While eulogising the duo for their friendly disposition to the scheme in the state, he made a specific request to the state government to restore the payment of monthly allowance to corps members serving with the Ministry, Departments and Agencies.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor and the Head of Service separately assured the Area Coordinator that the matter would be discussed at the State Executive Council as soon as the proposal was received from the state coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio.
In all the places visited, stakeholders showered encomiums on the state coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio for always displaying positive and right attitude to work and the passion she has for the youths.
The area coordinator later visited three sick corps members – John Perpetual Nneka, OD/19C/1252; Ekpene Anabel, OD/19C/1305 and Akinlade Ifeoluwa Esther who were on admission but are recuperating well at the University of Medical Sciences Hospital, Akure.
