16th August, 2010
The Lagos State Government has begun the disbursement of increased allowances to all corps members posted to serve in the state’s civil service.
Governor Babatunde Fashola had in April, approved an increment in the allowances of corps members serving in the civil service from N3,500 to between N10,000 and N15,000.
Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Tola Kasali, stated that the governor approved increased allowances for all corps members serving within the civil service in order to motivate them to put extra efforts in their individual areas of endeavour as part of their own contribution towards the dream of a mega city status for Lagos.
Dr. Kasali stated further that 925 corps members comprising 583 from the Ministry of Education, 17 from the Ministry of Health and 325 from other government ministries and parastatals, received their newly increased allowances through the e-payment banking system with arrears.
According to him, those who served with the state ministries of Health and Education received N15,000 each while others were paid N10,000 each.
He said that the government’s gesture was meant to alleviate the suffering of young graduates in the area accommodation, transportation and feeding as most of them were first time callers to the state.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties, Dr. Aderemi Desalu, said the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which was primarily established by the Federal Government to develop common ties among Nigerian youths and promote national unity and integration, had enabled an average Nigerian to develop a sense of corporate existence and common destiny for the people of the country.
Desalu stressed that the strategic position of Lagos State as the economic nerve centre of the nation prompted many corps members to lobby to come to Lagos for their service year.
He said that members serving in the public service were deployed to strategic areas of government’s priority in line with the development goals of the 10-point agenda of the present administration in which Education and Health topped the chart.
The permanent secretary enjoined corps members to reciprocate the gesture by contributing and leaving behind a legacy which others would build upon towards the realisation of a safe and beautiful environment.
Mr. Araoye Eniola, 2010 Batch A corps member, thanked Fashola for the increase, saying it would go a long way in augmenting the federal allowances being paid to them and called on the Federal Government to emulate the Lagos State Government by increasing the current monthly stipends being paid to corps members serving the nation.
NYSC State Coordinator, Mr. Ladipo Olaniyan, called on other governors of the federation to emulate Fashola’s gesture by coming to the plight of corps members serving in their domains.
Laniyan urged corps members in Lagos to reciprocate the gesture by working assiduously to uplift the state in any area of their endeavours.