By Onyeje Abutu-Joel
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has deployed a total of 2,200 corps members to Benue as 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream II
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports in makurdi that corps members were sworn in during the swearing in ceremony held at the NYSC permanent orientation camp at Wanune in Tarka Local Government Area of the state on Friday.
Gov Hyacinth Alia, who congratulated the corps members for being among the lucky ones posted to Benue, also congratulated them on their successful completion of their studies in their various institutions of learning within and outside the country.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Terkimbi Ikyange, the governor emphasised the importance of the scheme as initiated by the founding fathers for citizens to contribute their quota to national development.
“The service that you will be called to render, through the instrumentality of your various posting after the orientation camp, will help plug the skilled manpower gaps across the state and that is where you contribute your own quota to national development”, he said.
He noted however, that finding themselves in a strange land would create all sorts of doubt and fear but assured them that being in Benue is just home away from home.
The governor regretted that the country was currently bedeviled with some security challenges and Benue was not left out but he assured them that their security was guaranteed.
“Sadly, our nation is currently bedeviled with some security challenges and Benue has not been left out.
“However, let me quickly allay your fears and assure you that as a government, we are poised to ensuring that your security is guaranteed all through your stay in the state.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our administration in conjunction with all security agencies in the state have put in place giant proactive measures to ensure the safety of all places and residential areas of Corps members.
“You will also discover soon enough that people from various ethnic groups still live harmoniously in the state”, Alia explained.
The governor, therefore,assured the corps members that the state government was committed to providing necessary support to ensure a productive and rewarding service year in the state.
Earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Veronica Garba, commended the governor for his constant support for the scheme which has improved corps members performances in their various places of primary assignments.
Garba disclosed that the governor had approved the payment of monthly state allowance of N15,000 for corps members serving in Benue and also N100,000 for Corps Doctors.
“I wish to use this opportunity to thank his Excellency for the love and unflinching support the scheme has continued to enjoy under your administration.
“It is gratifying to inform you that the payment of monthly State allowance of fifteen thousand naira (&15,000.00) and also one hundred thousand naira ($100,000.00) to Corps Doctors has cushioned the effect of hardship on Corps members serving in the State and improved their performance as evident in their various PPAs.
“May | again thank his Excellency for coming to our rescue on the challenge of erosion in the camp by awarding contract for the construction of drainages and good road network within the camp environment”, Garba said.
The Coordinator informed the corps members that the orientation programme was generally packaged to enrich them with new techniques in the approach of different spheres of life.
She stated that highly rich trainings and lectures had been put together for their benefit, enjoining them to make the best out of the golden opportunity provided by the Federal Government by taking every aspect of the NYSC training programme seriously.
“The Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) you will soon be introduced to you is one of the highly beneficial programmes put together by NYSC to eradicate joblessness.
“Considering the unending scarcity of white collar jobs in Nigeria, I urge you to embrace the programme with all seriousness and commitment with a view to become self employed and employers of labour as this will in no small measure enhance your chances of excelling during and after the service year”, the Coordinator advised.
She also encouraged them to ensure healthy interactions irrespective of ethnicity, religion and social backgrounds in order to foster unity and integration, which is one of the core reasons for the establishment of the NYSC scheme. NAN
