Imoke Promises Better Welfare For Youth Corpers
San Francisco, Sept 17, (THEWILL) - In a concerted effort to ensure that the lofty objectives of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) are realized, the Cross River State Government has promised to give topmost priority to the welfare and security of Corps members serving in the state.
The State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Efiok Cobham stated this while declaring open a 2-day National Governing Board and NYSC Management Retreat with State Coordinators in Calabar, Wednesday, maintaining that apart from the state-of-the art orientation camp which the Corpers will occupy after the post amnesty exercise, government would ensure that enabling environment is created for them to carry out their statutory assignment.
He contended that the state policy on the Scheme in the payment of ten thousand naira as inconvenience allowance to each Corps members posted to the state, will continue to run for the period the facilities in the camp are still being upgraded and their dislodgement arising from the use of the camp by the federal government for the rehabilitation programme of the Niger Delta agitators.
Imoke maintained that, "as a state, we are committed to the ideals of the NYSC and shall continue to complement the efforts of the federal government in ensuring that her needs are met in the state", adding that the State Secretariat is currently being renovated in order to provide maximum comfort for the officials and management to carry out their day to day activities.
On the general well being of Corps members in the state, the Governor said that government will remain committed to ensuring that there is adequate protection, integration of the Corps into their various communities of primary assignments and general harmony among the members and the populace and called for collaborative effort by all stakeholders to get the scheme abreast with current trend.
In his welcome address, the Director General NYSC, Brig. General M. I., Tsiga who stated that since inception of the scheme in 1973, landmark achievements have been recorded in an effort at mobilizing the youths for socio-economic and political development of the country, adding that in recognition of its important role in the society, the federal government has resolved to mobilize Corps members for the forth coming Voters Registration Exercise.
The Director General enunciated some of the challenges faced by the scheme to include, lack of security in some states, sectarian violence and threat from kidnappers, lack of standard orientation camps in most of the states among others and expressed optimism that the retreat will offer the stakeholders the opportunity to proffer lasting solutions to those challenges which he noted are serious bane to the success of the scheme.
Also speaking, the Chairman, NYSC National Governing Board, Chief Linus Okom thanked the State Government for the demonstration of commitment and support to the scheme as well as providing for the welfare of its members to enable them discharge their duties of promoting national unity, instilling discipline and making worthy contribution to growth and development of the society, adding that "it is the greatest social scheme to be implemented since independence and has wax stronger despite all odds".
He lauded the Director General for initiating the retreat and urged participants to brainstorm on the challenges the scheme currently encounters and proffer workable remedies that will move the NYSC which now has over 200,000 members to an enviable height.