NYSC Threatens to Blacklist Employers That Neglect Corps Members' Welfare

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has warned that employers who fail to provide adequate welfare for Corps members, including accommodation and transportation, risk being blacklisted from benefiting from the services of the Scheme.

General Nafiu issued the warning during an interactive session with Corps members in Lokoja, Kogi State, as part of his working visit to the state.

He said the NYSC would no longer tolerate employers who neglect the welfare of Corps members, stressing that organisations unwilling to meet their obligations would be barred from receiving Corps members in future postings.

The NYSC Director-General reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of Corps members nationwide. He also appealed to state and local governments, as well as other stakeholders, to strengthen their support for the Scheme to improve the service experience of participants.

On security, Nafiu reminded Corps members that safeguarding lives and property is a collective responsibility, urging them to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the appropriate security agencies.

He also charged the Corps members to remain disciplined, dedicated to their duties and avoid acts capable of tarnishing their reputation, reminding them that they represent their families, institutions of graduation and the NYSC wherever they serve.

The Director-General further encouraged the Corps members to actively participate in the post-orientation camp Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, describing it as a vital platform for developing entrepreneurial skills and becoming self reliant.

He urged them to identify business opportunities within their host communities and begin building sustainable sources of income even before completing their service year.

Acknowledging the country's current economic realities, Nafiu advised the Corps members to cultivate a culture of prudent financial management and savings.

"Take your service year as a training ground for future financial management by managing your finances wisely," he said.

Earlier, the NYSC Kogi State Coordinator, Tochi Chika Chris-Moneke, expressed appreciation to the Director-General for the visit, describing it as a demonstration of his commitment to the welfare and security of Corps members and NYSC staff in the state.

She disclosed that the Kogi State Secretariat would soon organise a Corps Employers' Workshop and a Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme aimed at strengthening collaboration with employers and extending healthcare services to rural communities.