NYSC DG Opens Up On Mobilisation Of All Corps Members For 2016

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Director-General Brig-Gen. Sule Kazaure has said the poor release of funds to the scheme in the 2016 budget will affect mobilisation of eligible corps members this year.

The Nation reports that Kazaure noted that while mobilisation for all graduates remains compulsory as there was no plan to amend the Act establishing the scheme, the service is facing tough challenges because of lack of funds.

The NYSC D-G said: “In the past few weeks, the NYSC has been in the news over its presumed inability to mobilise all qualified prospective corps members for the 2016 Batch B service year.

“As much as there is always public interest in the affairs of the scheme, there is need to put the facts in their right perspective and clear the doubts.

“In summary, the NYSC is prepared to always mobilise qualified graduates for the next service year batch.

“However, it must be emphasised that as a budget dependent organisation, the scope of our activities is facing financial constraints as every other government agency in the recession.

“In the 2016 budget, provision was made for the mobilisation of 210,000 corps members. However, the figure for 2016 Batch A and Batch B more than doubled the original projection.”

“As we did before the 2016 Batch A Orientation, we have appealed to government for special intervention grant to mop up the excess of this figure.

“So far, we have received the green light from relevant government agencies to prepare for the mobilisation of all qualified prospective corps members.

“However, the limited cumulative capacity of the orientation camps nationwide necessitates a second stream orientation course for the 2016 Batch B, which is being planned for January 2017,” Kazaure said to reporters in Abuja at his first media parley since assumption of office.

ThisDay reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the outfit to mobilise the remaining prospective corps members for the 2016 Batch ‘’B’’ service year.

“Within the last six months, Mr. President has had to intervene in our most difficult circumstances and approved special grants for mobilisation of excess prospective corps members.

“So far, we have received the green light from the relevant government agencies to prepare for the mobilisation of all qualified prospective corps members. However, the limited cumulative capacity of the orientation camps nationwide necessitates a second stream orientation course for the 2016 Batch B, which is being planned for January 2017,” the NYSC boss added.

Meanwhile, the Senate is set to convert the Kaduna Polytechnic and Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) to universities.

This news has caused euphoria in the two institutions as students are said to have begun celebrations ahead of the final decision of the Senate.