The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says 21 corps members in the 2017 Batch A Stream 1, who were sent to Akwa Ibom State, are to repeat their service for absconding during the period.
Mr Julius Amusan, the NYSC state coordinator, disclosed this during the passing out ceremony in Uyo on Thursday.
Amusan added that 12 of the 2,827 corps members sent to the state would have to face extended service ranging from three to four months for absenteeism, among other offences.
“During the service year under review, 21 corps members absconded from service and have been recommended for outright repeat of service whenever they resurface.
“There are 12 others that committed various degrees of misconduct ranging from unauthorised journeys to absenteeism and other acts not in conformity with the NYSC Bye laws.
“They will serve extension of service ranging from three to four months,” Amusan said.
The state coordinator, however, commended some corps members for their exemplary behaviour, adding that they conducted themselves within the ambit of the law and lived up to the ideals of the scheme.
Amusan charged the outgoing corps members to make use of the lessons they have learnt during the service as their guiding principles.
“Life after service may not have presented a rosy picture, particularly the dire unemployment situation, but the courage and resilience you will put into it matter a lot.
“The various skills to which you have been exposed in the last one year will serve as a catalyst to overcoming immediate challenge, as you go into the labour market,” he said.
The state coordinator regretted that three corps members from the batch lost their lives in the course of the service.
He thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel, corps employers, security agencies and other stakeholders for their support during the service year.
In his remarks, Emmanuel said that NYSC had been a critical partner in the development of Akwa Ibom.
Emmanuel, who was represented by Mr Aniedi Dickson, thePermanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths and Sports, added that contributions of the NYSC in the implementation of government policies and programmes impacted greatly on all sectors of the economy.
“The Government and people of Akwa Ibom State cannot compensate you adequately for filling the gaps in our educational and socioeconomic lives.
“The enduring legacies you are leaving behind will be preserved for our benefits and posterity,” the governor said.
While advocating for an improvement on all federal allowances paid to corps members, Emmanuel stressed that he would consider a review of state allowances.
He urged corps members to judiciously use the knowledge acquired from Skill Acquisition and Enterpreneurship Development (SAED) to develop them and become employers of labour.
Also, NYSC in Osun State has extended the service of 10 of the 2,086 outgoing corps members of 2017 batch A, stream I for committing various offences.
Mr Emmanuel Attah, the NYSC Coordinator in the state made this known on Thursday during the passing out ceremony of corps members at the permanent orientation camp in Ede.
Attah said the corps members breached the rules guiding the service year and they would serve varying degrees of punishment.
He said the punishment would range from extension of service to re-mobilisation in accordance with the by-laws of the scheme and gravity of their offences.
The coordinator however, implored them to be committed to a lifelong service of rebuilding Nigeria as well as make use of their skills, intellect and development to better the lives of people around them.
The state Gov., Mr Rauf Aregbesola, in his farewell address, urged the corps members to be self-reliant and not to wait for white collar jobs.
The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs Grace Laoye-Tomori, also charged them to arm themselves with skills gained in the course of the service year as they stepped into the larger society.
“Do not yield to frustrations and desperation orchestrated by scourge of unemployment and youthful restlessness but stay tuned to your course.
“Be discipline, accountable and patient and not be in a hurry to achieve in a day what will take years to achieve.
“Shun every temptation to do those things of which you and your family and the nation will not be proud of,’’ he said.
It is the same story in Delta State where 19 corps members will have to repeat the exercise.
The NYSC accused them of absconding from their service-year programme and would repeat it whenever they presented themselves to the authority.
The State Coordinator, Mr Benjamin Omotade, said this during the passing out of the 2017 Batch A, Stream 1 corps members in Asaba on Thursday.
Omotade said that 16 would have their service year extended for between two weeks and four months.
He said that they corps were found wanting and had been reprimanded in accordance with the bye-laws of the NYSC.
He, however, said that three corps members who distinguished themselves in their primary places of assignment during the service year had been selected for recognition and awards.
He said that two who belonged to Stream 1 would receive the Chairman’s Award while one would be conferred with the state Honours Award during the 2017 Batch A Stream 11 passing out.
He said that the recognition and awards were also in line with the policy of the scheme.
He advised the corps members to go home and re-unite with their families after a meritorious service to the nation.
Also, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State admonished the corps members not to be deterred by security challenges and unemployment.
Okowa was represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Oghenejaro Ilolo.
The governor said that their participation and experience in the scheme were to equip them with the necessary skills and strategies for survival as adults in a competitive world.
In Niger State, two Corps members in the 2017 Batch ‘A’ stream 1 are to repeat their service for abscondment from their places of primary assignment.
The state Coordinator of the National Youths Service (NYSC), Mrs Theresa Arokoyo, disclosed this during the passing out ceremony of 1,947 Corps member in Minna on Thursday.
She said that any corps member who failed to conform to the ethics, norms and ideals of the scheme would also be sanctioned according to the dictates of the NYSC bye-law.
Arokoyo also announced that four corps members received the state merit award for their outstanding performance in execution of community development project that have impacted positively on the lives of their host communities.
She added that two corps members lost their lives in the course of their service year due to road accident and illness.
The coordinator said that during the service year, the corps members acquired entrepreneurial skills that would enable them to be self-reliant.
She commended the corps members for their contributions toward the growth and development of the state and the Nation at large.
Arokoyo applauded the state government for providing transportation for 2017 Batch ‘B’ stream 11 corps members dislodged to Kaduna for their orientation camp and providing N3,000 transport fare for the out-going corps members.
In his remarks, Governor Abubakar Bello commended the corps members for their contributions to the living standard of their host communities and donation of learning equipment to improve the standard of education in the state.
Bello, who was represented by Alhaji Ismaila Ibrahim, Commissioner for Youth, advised the corps members to put into practice the lessons and skills learnt in order to become self-reliant.
“As a responsive government, we are very sensitive to the needs and aspiration of our youths, as such, we have put in place a comprehensive road map for effective engagement of our teaming youths.
“We have trained over 5,000 youths in various agricultural activities, artisanship and other vocational skills and provision of employment for graduates,” he said.
In Lagos, NYSC presented State Honours’ Award and cash prizes to 14 outstanding corps members in the Centre of Excellence.
Mr Momammed Momoh, the Lagos State Coordinator of NYSC, also announced the death of three members during the passing-out parade of the corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.
Momoh said that the awardees received cash prizes ranging from N150,000 to N200,000.
The awardees include 11 corps members of the 2016 Batch ‘A’ and ‘B ‘ and three corps members in the 2017 Batch ‘A’, Stream I.
“On a sad note, we lost three corps members of this batch to the cold hands of death. May their souls rest in peace and may God give their families the fortitude to bear the losses,’’ he said.
He said that 4,876 corps members successfully completed their service.
Momoh said that six corps members received Chairman’s Commendation while 20 corps members got the state coordinator’s attestation.
The coordinator said that 23 corps members would repeat their service for absconding from duty.
He also said that 17 others would have their service extended for various periods as a punishment.
“Just as NYSC recognises and rewards excellence, the scheme also punishes corps members, who breach its rules and guidelines.
“I wish, therefore, to report that 23 corps members absconded from service and they are to repeat the service.
“Seventeen others are to serve various periods of extension of service.’’
Momoh said that the successful corps members contributed their quotas to the overall development of Nigeria through their primary assignments and various community development services.
He said that the contributions were in the areas of education, healthcare and constructions.
Momoh commended E-Insurance Solutions Centre Ltd., Ikoyi, for sending four corps members to Kenya for training and employing two of them after their service.
In his address, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State commended the corps members for their contributions to the development of the state.
Ambode was represented by Mr Oluseye Oladejo, Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations.
He listed areas where the corps members made their marks to include education, health, sensitisation and awareness campaign against child abuse/domestic violence, drug abuse and HIV/AIDS.
“Nigeria is looking forward to you as future leaders that have been equipped with what it takes to achieve the vision of a stronger, more secure, stable and prosperous nation.
“As you prepare to commence another phase of livelihood, I urge you to keep in mind the lesson of this programme, which is the awareness and appreciation of the diversity of your nation,’’ Ambode said.
