The outgoing Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, has announced that plans have been made to increase allowances of corps members very soon.
Olawunmi made this disclosure known during a handing over ceremony in Abuja on Monday, April 18 to the new director-general of the scheme, Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure.
He also added that the federal government is aware of lack of funding and would likely grant the request.
The outgoing NYSC Boss, who will now serve as Acting Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, said:
“We have brought to federal government’s attention the urgent need to increase some of the allowances due to corps members and recent response suggests a strong ray of light at the end of the tunnel.
The major challenge I had as director-general of the scheme is the increasing corps population which was accompanied with dwindling financial resources. It is rather unfortunate that we could not execute some major programmes and activities due to paucity of funds. The scheme was not able to handle some of its programmes especially the sports and cultural festival in 2015.
“You may not be aware that series of letters that have been written and necessary follow up to the appropriate authorities on the need for proper funding of the scheme.
“This is especially important now that the current corps population has risen to 260,000 per year”.
Brig-Gen JB Olawunmi passing on the flag of leadership of the scheme to the incoming DG Brig-Gen Sule Kazaure
Olawumi also urged Kazaure to make the welfare of corps members and staff his top priority to boost their morale for effective service delivery.
Corroborating with Olawunmi, the new DG, Brigadier-General Sule Kazaure, promised to give priority to the welfare of corps members and its staff and ensure transparency of the scheme.
“The task ahead is enormous and the road looks very rough but with sincerity of purpose we will make progress,’’ he concluded.
