Federal Government, gave letters of employment to
173 ex-Corps members for immediate appointment into the various ministries in
the Civil Service. The Federal Civil Service Commission [FCSC] officially
handed over appointment letters to the 173 ex-National Youth Service Corp
[NYSC] who served in 2012, 2013 and 2014 for distinguishing themselves during
their service years.
Presenting the letters to the recipients in Abuja, FCSC Chairman, Deaconess Joan Ayo
commended the awardees for exhibiting exemplary conduct and discipline
throughout their years in service.“
Out of
the total of 173 members, 164 got Presidential Awards while the remaining nine
were introduced into the scheme via the aegis of Hope Alive, a brainchild of
the NYSC. It will be recalled that
the Presidential awards was earlier bestowed on the corps members in March this
year following the announcement made by Former President Goodluck Jonathan at
the Presidential Villa in Abuja following an induction course which the Corp
members undertook two months ago.
However, Deaconess Ayo explained that the delay in the
appointment to the awardees and the nine Hope Alive members was due to the
change in government. The NYSC Hope
Alive Initiative is a public/private sector partnership (PPP) aimed at bringing
succor to corps members who suffer permanent disability during service.
According to Director General of the NYSC, Brig-Gen. Johnson
Olawunmi, “The initiative is also
designed “to give hope to future corps members that the scheme and indeed this
great nation will not abandon those who may suffer similar fate in the course
of national service”.
This indeed is a worthy initiative. In the past, youth corps
members who sustain injuries leading to permanent disabilities during their
service were subjected to post-service emotional and psychological trauma as
they were neglected by the same society they were mobilized to serve.
In his
remarks, NYSC DG told the awardees to see themselves as a mirror of good
conduct through which people see the imperative of service to humanity.
Olawunmi stressed that the federal government is committed to protecting all
serving corps members and even taking care of any unforeseen circumstances that
might arise during their service year.
He however prayed that no evil would be-fall them, stressing the
Buhari’s government determination to put their welfare at the center of his
administration.
On the nine members who sustained severe injuries during their
service years, the NYSC boss quoted President Buhari saying, “No Nigerian youth will be abandoned.” He assured prospective NYSC members that
the scheme would continue to ensure that the corps members who distinguished
themselves during the service year would be adequately compensated.
