By Yashim Katurak
Abuja – The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has assured the newly sworn-in corps members for the 2018 Batch ‘C’ Stream I service year that their security and welfare needs remain top priority to the Federal Government.
The minister gave the assurance in Abuja on Thursday, while addressing corps members during the Swearing-in Ceremony at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp, Kubwa.
Bello, who was represented by Mr Bashiru Mohammad, the Acting Chairman, NYSC FCT Governing Board, said adequate arrangements had been made to ensure presence of security operatives within and outside the camps.
He said the federal government was on top of its game in ensuring the welfare and security of corps members, adding that these remained top priority to government.
Bello, however, said despite the presence of security operatives, corps members should see the issue of security as the collective responsibility of all.
“I want to inform you that hate speech and fake news are serious threats to national security and nascent democracy.
“Indeed, the FCT Administration, the federal government and every patriotic citizen frowns at it.
“You must join hands with government to disarticulate, condemn and exterminate this dreaded virus from becoming entrenched into the norms and values.
“You must learn to do things differently in keeping with the change mantra of this administration; after all we all admit that ‘change begins with me’.
“There is an extant ban on the promotion of tobacco and alcoholic beverages in NYSC orientation camps and all stadia nationwide.
“I therefore charge you to eschew all acts of immorality and criminality; you must make the camp drug-free.”
Mr Bello Ballama, the NYSC FCT Coordinator, had earlier said that all necessary resources had been mobilised to address the security and welfare needs of the corps members.
Ballama assured that all collaborating security agencies as well as medical personnel were available to deal with any and all issues that arose during the orientation.
He advised corps members to utilise the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme (SAED) by learning one or more skills to equip them towards self reliance during and after the service year.
The coordinator said that as at 12 midnight of Wednesday, 2,675 corps members had registered to participate in the 2018 Batch ‘C’ Stream I service year.
The orientation course which commenced simultaneously on Oct. 23, at various orientation camps nationwide will run till Nov. 12, 2018.
The orientation course was designed by the scheme to address each participating corps member’s competence and readiness for the service year.
The corps members were sworn-in by the Chief Judge of the FCT, Justice Ishaq Bello, represented by Justice Kayode Adeniyi. (NAN)