For the first time in the history of Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), a federal government programme designed to deepen national cohesion and diversity, the passing out parade of Corps members on Thursday last week, was marred by unpaid arrears of two months.
The strange scenario forced one of the Corps members (name with held), to post on his Facebook page as follows:
“Dear NYSC and FG, our one year contract expired on 23rd October 2017, but you decided to let us go on 2nd November 2017.
“Before we entered this contract, we never agreed that we will become NYSC pensioners on completion of the one year service.
“Now that we’re done with our part of the contract, you have subjected us to becoming NYSC PENSIONERS, by withholding our 2months allowance.
“Please try and pay us our remaining allawi. We have so many things to do with money.
“Thanks for your understanding,” the aggrieved Corp member averred.
Business Hilights recalls that the Director General of NYSC, Brig. Gen Sule Zakari Kazaure, had in second week of June this year, assured corps members across the country that the delay of their monthly allowances being experienced would soon be resolved.
He stated this during his visit to the NYSC permanent orientation camp in the Kebbi State to ascertain the welfare of batch A stream 1 corps members who are currently undergoing their orientation programme.
It was gathered that some corps members redeployed to other states have not been paid three months allowances, including February, April and May 2017.
While responding to the report, Kauzare represented by Director, Human Resource Management, Mrs. Adetoun Comfort Makinde, said the authority was working hard to end the problem.
According to NYSC, “It is not really our fault; it is the issue that has to do with TSA. But we are working to improve it. It is not our fault,” Makinde explained.
However, considering the above lamentations, it means that the issue spotted since June, six months on, was never resolved.
