28th July, 2017
The Federal Government says it will soon commence the construction of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp in Kwali, FCT, according to the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello.
Bello said this in Abuja on Friday at the Swearing-In Ceremony of the 2017 Batch ‘A’ Stream II set of corps members at the NYSC orientation camp, Kubwa.
The minister was represented by Mrs Amina Abubakar, Director, Human Resource Management, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
He said the construction of the orientation camp would give NYSC the maximum support needed in recognition of its role as an active partner in the development of FCT.
Bello said when completed, the permanent orientation camp would also to enable the scheme function and carry out its camp activities in a more suitable location and conducive environment.
The minister said he would also relocate the NYSC FCT Secretariat to a more secure location, adding that he had also given a directive for the renovation of facilities in the current orientation camp.
“My administration is determined to give the NYSC maximum support in recognition of the scheme’s role as an active partner in the development of the FCT.
“I will take all necessary steps to quicken the relocation of the orientation camp to a more suitable location.
“In the interim, I have directed that renovation be carried out on this camp to make it more conducive than it is at the moment.
“In the FCT, the advent of a new Batch of corps members ushers in renewed hope for the people.
‘’This is so, especially the indigenes who are the major beneficiaries of the benevolence of community development efforts by corps members.
“The communities and people of the FCT have enjoyed various programmes and projects by corps members.
“Some of these include provision of portable water, health and educational projects and empowerment of youths, women and physically challenged through skills programmes.
“Indeed, the NYSC remains a veritable tool for integrated development and a noteworthy complement to the efforts of government at all levels to avail the Nigerian people an ever improving quality of living,” Bello said.
The minister urged the new corps members to apply themselves diligently to all camp activities and submit to the regimented nature and discipline of the scheme.
He said this would be to their benefit as individuals and enable them record success during the service year.
The minister also urged them not to take the oath they have sworn lightly but give their all in service to the country.
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Earlier, Mr Abdulrazak Salawu, the NYSC FCT Coordinator, said the scheme registered 2,400 corps members for the 2017 Batch ‘A’ stream II service year in the territory.
He stressed the need to construct more facilities and rehabilitate old ones in the camp, to help the scheme meet up with the increasing number of corps members mobilised yearly.
‘’When the scheme commenced operations in 1973, we started with a corps population of 2,694, 44 years after; we are grappling with an overwhelming population of 400,000 yearly.
He said the camp facilities were, therefore, stretched beyond their limit, adding that most facilities were worn out, making the camp unsuitable to be called an ideal camp.
Salawu reiterated the importance of the scheme to national development and called on the government and private sector to support the scheme to remain relevant to national integration and growth.
He said in response to the emerging threats to the mental and social state of our youths, especially in the area of drug abuse, the scheme had set up a counselling centre in the camp ‘’to help our children in this regard.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Yusuf Halilu, who represented the Chief Justice of FCT, Justice Ishaq Bello, administered the oath of allegiance to the corps members.
The corps members will undergo orientation course from July 26 to Aug.15 and posted to various organisations, agencies, local governments and communities within the territory for their primary assignment.