Save the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, embarrassing moments by staying at your various places of primary assignment, Ondo State coordinator of the scheme, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, has charged corps members posted to the state.
Akpabio made the call during the flag-off of lecture series for the newly inducted 2020 Batch ‘A’ (Stream 1) corps members at Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko.
Speaking on the overview of the NYSC scheme, Akpabio said that it was regrettable that some corps members who should serve the nation diligently were busy embarking on frivolous and needless journeys, thus causing embarrassing moments.
“It is worrisome that some corps members, who have been well grounded in the policy of NYSC right from the camp, will cook up stories and tell blatant lies to their employers just to take excuse and travel outside the state without the written permission of the state coordinator.
“My mandate is to protect each and every one of you right from the orientation camp and throughout the service year but some of you are taking unmitigated risks which sometimes result in unpalatable stories.
“It is most harrowing, traumatic and sad experience to lose a corps member in the course of the service year when the hopes of the parents and guardians are high with expectations that they would start to reap their investment having trained such individuals to acquire tertiary education,” she said.
Akpabio outlined the programmes and activities of the scheme and took the corps members through the historical perspective of NYSC.
She reminded the members of the service corps that core objective of the NYSC was to promote unity among the various ethnics which made up the entity called Nigeria.
The NYSC boss encouraged the corps members to “learn to integrate with their colleagues from other parts of the country and create a bond of unity and oneness” which will give them memorable moments.
She admonished them to mix freely and ensure that they respect other peoples’ opinion and restrain themselves from forcing their ideas on others even if their argument is superior under any given circumstance.
She reiterated the commitment of the management at ensuring that the scheme rose up above the challenges confronting it, and making it more pragmatic to the yearnings and aspirations of all Nigerians.
However, she asserted that the corps members should justify the huge investment made on them by the Federal Government especially with the recent increment in the monthly allowance.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. You should justify your elevated status via the increase in the monthly allowance and give your very best to take us to the promised land,” she concluded.
