More good news for the Nigeria corps members as the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, disclosed to the media that the federal government is ready to enhance corps members’ welfare and increase their allowance. Mr. Dare stated this in Abuja following the inauguration of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) 50th-anniversary committee. He said the management had already submitted a proposal to the government and is awaiting presidential approval. The management proposes increasing the monthly allowance and improving the uniform.
With the government approval, the Skills Acquisition Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) training would be extended beyond the initial three-week period and become available throughout the youth service period. The inaugurated committee is expected to provide suggestions on reforming and improving the NYSC scheme framework and structure, which serves as the basis for all processes. Since its inception in 1973, the National Youth Service Corps has significantly impacted the country’s healthcare and education systems, Mr. Dare claimed.
SAED program is piquing corps members’ interest in self-employment.
The minister indicates that the Federal Government acknowledges the NYSC and its 50 years of existence, given its positive impact on Nigeria’s social, economic, and political growth through the dedication of Nigeria’s youth. He claims it is heartening to see that their scheme’s SAED program piqued corps members’ interest in self-employment and wealth building. By design, the SAED program helps fresh university graduates become established in the workplace by providing them with training and mentorship in the areas of skill building and entrepreneurship.
Given the outstanding accomplishments of its primary assignment and community development activities, the plan deserves recognition and celebration. These include promoting national unity and integration, educational development, healthcare delivery, and social and infrastructure development. Over the past fifty years, the annual reported number of youth corps members has risen from 2,300 to 350,000 and 400,000. Altogether, the scheme has discharged nearly eight million corps members nationwide, which is a significant accomplishment.
The committee is charged with analyzing the scheme’s operations.
While inaugurating the 22-member inter-ministerial committee, Mr. Dare charged them with highlighting the scheme’s most significant achievements over the last half-century for the people of Nigeria. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the scheme, he tasked the committee to provide suggestions for events and programs to hold. The committee is also responsible for analyzing the scheme’s operations and making recommendations regarding maintaining it relevant in the long run. In addition, the committee is anticipated to explore corps members’ ideas for a logo and mascot to commemorate the anniversary.
Furthermore, Mr. Dare tasked the committee with advising management on the best way to set up schools and other garment factories, as well as how to ensure the swift and successful debut of all recently established NYSC ventures and SAED centers. He promised the committee members government backing while charging them to work on the committee’s terms of reference diligently. Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed, Director-General (DG) of the National Youth Service Corps, also spoke highly of the contributions made by successive batches to the fairness and transparency of elections in Nigeria.
NYSC’s DG lauded corps members’ contributions.
In addition, Brigadier General Ahmed also lauded the contributions made by the corps members on several aspects of developmental programmes, such as the population census exercise, the vaccination exercise, the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and the battle against COVID-19. The chairman of the inaugurated committee, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, has given his word that the committee members would do all in their power to live up to the expectations and deliver on the task assigned to them.
Related Link
NYSC: Website
