ORJI COMMENDS NYSC, PLEDGES TO RESPECT NON-PREFERENCE IN POSTING

THE Abia State Governor, Dr. Theodore Orji, has commended the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), for its development strides in the state, pledging that the state would abide by the new policy of no preferential posting of corps members for primary assignments.

The governor made this pledge during a recent courtesy call by the top management of the scheme, led by its Director General, Brigadier-General Nnamdi Okore-Affia, who is also an indigene of the state.

A statement from the NYSC recently stated that the governor assured the NYSC management that it would do everything within its power towards the realisation of the scheme's statutory mandates in the state.

'The Abia State government will not relent in fulfilling its obligations to the National Youth Service Corps while realising its important contribution to the development of the state in all sectors,' the governor was quoted to have said at the visit.  He reiterated government's commitment to continue to place NYSC programme in the state on the priority list.

'Part of government's commitment is the recent award of contracts for the construction of more hostels for corps members and staff at the permanent orientation camp, to ease accommodation problem posed by increased corps population,' he added.

In his opening address, the director general informed the Abia State Governor that he was in the Government House to thank the government and people of Abia State for their support and cooperation with NYSC in the state.

The director general commended Orji for not only assisting NYSC, but also keeping to the state's statutory obligations to the scheme especially: 'The on-going expansion of infrastructural facilities in the orientation camp speaks well of the Abia State government's commitment to the course of NYSC,' he said.

Okore-Affia, during his recent tour of the southeast, southsouth and southwest states orientation camps, disclosed that a new skills acquisition training programme aimed at equipping corps members against the present challenges of securing paid jobs had been introduced to begin with the 2012 Batch 'A' orientation course programme. The states toured were Abia, Bayelsa, Anambra, Ebonyi, Edo and Ondo.

The director general emphasised that the corps members must avail themselves of the new opportunity so as to live productive lives after service.

'In addition to the skill acquisition, martial art training is introduced to prepare you people for self-defence especially the female ones among you,' he said, encouraging them to be security conscious.