Ilorin – Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has urged state governments to support the scheme toward smooth running of orientation camps.
Olawumi made the appeal on Tuesday at a news conference during his visit to the Nigeria Army School of Education (NASE), Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the director-general was at NASE to inspect facilities NYSC would use during the promotion examination and interview of its staff.
He commended state governments in the country for their support for the scheme “despite the paucity of funds affecting virtually all tiers of government.’’
The NYSC boss said he could not blame any state government that was unable to give subvention to the scheme during orientation course as there were many issues competing for their attention.
He added that “so many things are competing for state government’s attention including health, agriculture, infrastructure, water.
“So, if we are not getting the support we used to get from state governments, it is not that such governors are not happy with the scheme, I think it is because of lack of fund.’’
Olawumi said that in spite of the lack of fund, many state governments were building new orientation camps, upgrading existing ones and improving on remuneration to corps members.
He, however, added that the call for continuous support became necessary in view of the fact that corps members were on national assignment outside their states.
He then discouraged pregnant women from taking part in the orientation course, noting that “pregnant women are advised to wait and deliver their babies before coming for the national service.
“This move is in the best interest of the pregnant women and to bring effectiveness to the scheme, particularly the orientation course.’’
Earlier, the director-general had paid a courtesy visit to the Brigade Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ali Nani and the Commandant of NASE, Brig.-Gen. Lawan Abdullahi.
The NASE Commandant expressed gratitude to the NYSC boss for choosing NASE as venue for the promotion examination and interview of staff out of the many Army formation schools across the country.
Brig.-Gen. Abdullahi expressed readiness to cooperate with NYSC in order to achieve success, adding that any improvement in the scheme was a plus for NASE too. (NAN)