By Yashim Katurak
Abuja – The Management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abuja on Monday commenced a two-day interactive forum with corps members on issues affecting national service.
The forum organised by the scheme has 190 corps members in attendance who are representing the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
The two-day forum is taking place on Jan. 8 and 9 at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa, with the theme: “Repositioning Corps Members as Instruments for Accelerated Nation-Building”.
Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, the NYSC Director-General, while declaring the forum open said it was part of activities of the scheme to get corps members involved in the administration.
Represented by Mrs Victoria Okakwu, the NYSC Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Kazaure said the forum would enable management get feedback from corps members on the various issues faced during the service year.
He said that the issues brought forward by the corps members would be deliberated and the resolutions adopted would be used to improve the administration of the scheme.
“Some of the issues I am pre-empting will be brought up by the corps members is their rejection from places of postings for primary assignment.
“A lot of corps members are turned down by various institutions; other issues are provision of accommodation by various employers and corps members’ inability to cope during the service year.
“Corps members’ lodges and the inability of local governments to meet up with this responsibility will also be brought up.
“We hope to stimulate discussion between corps members and management, bridge communication gap, address corps welfare and review issues of corps security.
“With this and other issues we believe solutions will be proffered which we will take back to the state and local governments,” Kazaure said.
He expressed optimism that all the issues raised at the forum would be addressed in order to achieve a better understanding between management and corps members towards effective administration of the scheme.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that part of the agenda for the forum is sensitisation talks by members of staff, round table discussion on issues affecting the scheme by corps members and management.
Corps members participating in the forum will be divided into five groups for interaction and discussion.
The groups will thereafter be expected to present their observation and recommendations to management while a communiqué will be released at the end of the forum. (NAN)