By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
Twenty-eight members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in Kwara State, said to have absconded will repeat the sevice year, the state Coordinator of the scheme, Mrs Francisca Olaleye, has said.
Making this known in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Mrs Olaleye disclosed this as the 2021 Batch A Stream II corps members held their passing out ceremony.
Insisting that this was in accordance with the extant laws of the scheme, she said, “I wish to also add that a very few of them, who violated some sections of the NYSC Bye-Laws, have equally been earmarked for disciplinary actions.
“Twenty-eight corps members, who absconded from the NYSC programme, shall repeat the service year, whenever they made themselves available. Also, 22 corps members would have their service year extended for
other punishable offences.
“This disciplinary action will serve as a deterrent to other corps members, who may want to violate any section of the NYSC Bye-Laws.”
She pleaded with the corps members to continue being the spontaneous emissary of the scheme after their national service.
The Coordinator however commended the outgoing corps members for their achievements, most especially the outgoing medical team, saying, “I am proud of your achievements, as part of today’s ceremony, one outstanding corps member, among the Batch, shall be conferred with the prestigious NYSC State Honours Award.”
In his message to the corps members, the Kwara State governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described the NYSC scheme as the most time-tested path for contemporary Nigerian-youth graduates.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Mrs Funke Banire, the governor hailed their great and clear-sightedness as well as the clear vision of the founding fathers of the scheme.
He said, “I salute the foresight of the forefathers of this noble scheme. I
wish to assert that the National Youth Service Corps scheme remains the most enduring legacy bestowed upon the present generation of Nigerian youth.”
AbdulRazaq also appreciated the corps members, and also lauded their contribution to the development of the state during their national service.
He added, “You have succeeded in writing your names boldly in gold in the hearts
of our people. One cannot but recount your contributions to the overall socio-economic development of our state, through the various Community
Development Service, CDS, projects that were initiated and executed during
this out-going service year.”
A total of 1,159 corps members passed out after completing the
mandatory one-year national service.
