Corps members will be posted to safe areas, NYSC assures

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has again assured parents and guardians of prospective corps members that they (corps members) will only be posted to areas that are safe.

The scheme noted that corps members are only posted to areas adjudged safe after receiving security briefings from security agencies.

Director – General of the NYSC, Brig Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim stated these at a journalists colloquium with the theme: “The role of the media and NYSC in nation building and cohesion” organised by the FRCN Headquarters NUJ Chapel.

The NYSC, which is in its 48 years of existence, is facing calls for its scrapping on the grounds of increasing insecurity in the country.

But on Friday, the DG of the scheme assured corps members of their safety, adding that security agents have been deployed to lodges of corps members to ensure their protection.

“The posting of corps members is done in collaboration with the security agencies who would have advised on the areas to go and the areas to avoid. When those areas to avoid are mentioned corps members are not posted there.

“Corps members are only posted to areas that have been adjudged safe and as advised by the security agencies. A lot of interactions and meetings go on between the management of the scheme and security agencies before corps members are posted and they are only posted to areas that have been adjudged as not challenged.

“Everyone is aware that security agents are posted to man all the areas where the corps lodges are situated, including the lodges of National Association of Catholic Corps Members, NIFES and others.

“All these lodges are being protected by security agencies,” Ibrahim who was represented by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the NYSC, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi said.

The NYSC boss added that the scheme has introduced relocation on the grounds of security challenge along with the existing rules of seeking relocation – marriage and health condition.

He added that the security and welfare of corps members remained a priority for the NYSC management.

Chairperson of the FRCN Headquarters NUJ Chapel, Sandra Udeike said the NYSC remained relevant even in the face of present security challenges in the country.

According to her, the NYSC, aside serving as a tool for national unity and integration, has played vital roles in key sectors of the nation like education, health, agriculture and others.

Source: The Nation