Director-General National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed has appealed for the consideration of Corps members in the implementation of the approved new minimum wage by the Federal Government for public servants.
Ahmed has also clarified that no ransom was paid for the release of eight prospective Corps members who were kidnapped by unknown gunmen while travelling from Uyo in Akwa Ibom to Sokoto contrary to reports in a section of the media.
The DG in his quest for robust welfare package for all Corps members, visited the Chairman, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Mr Ekpo Nta in his office in Abuja, where he made case for consideration of the Corps members in the implementation of the new national minimum wage for workers.
General Ahmed who earlier thanked the Chairman for his support to the Scheme added that there is need for increased financial empowerment for Corps members.
In his response, Mr Ekpo, an Ex-Corps member that served in 1977 in Kano described NYSC as the largest youth programme in the world. He promised that “as soon as anything comes, we will do the needful”.
Speaking further, Mr Nta advocated post-camp accommodation for all Corps Members, adding that there is need to rally round the Scheme by the public through the provision of enabling environments for Corps Members to perform their statutory responsibilities.
He equally harped on increased productivity from all workers while he commended the management of NYSC for empowering Corps Members with skills which has made lots of them job creators.
Mr Ekpo bemoaned some employers that reject Corps members posted to serve in their establishments, while he urged them to productively engage all Corps members as part of their workforce.
“In our commission, we allow Corps Members to access soft skills, we have trained them to be more productive and when they pass out, they go with the skills”, Nta said.
Meanwhile, the NYSC Director-General, Yushau Ahmed while briefing newsmen in Abuja on the successful rescue of the remaining person out of the eight prospective members of NYSC who were kidnapped in Zamfara state.
He dismissed reports in a section of the media that ransom was paid to release the Corps members kidnapped by unknown assailants while travelling from Uyo in Akwa Ibom to Sokoto.
“There was no payment of ransom in rescue of all the perspective Corps members. No state government paid any amount as claimed in the media.
“I must state that I have not received any one naira from any state government so far in the name of the rescue of these Corps members,” Ahmed said.
He maintained that the welfare and security of all NYSC members remain the scheme’s top priority, while also urging them to avoid travelling at night because of the danger and risk involved.
“We will continue to advise our prospective corps members and serving corps members to desist from travelling at night because of the risk attached to it,” Ahmed said.
He recalled the incident, saying, “You will remember when these Corps members were travelling from Uyo in Akwa Ibom to Sokoto. They were kidnapped on August 17, 2024, on Funtua Bisau Road in Zamfara State.”
He explained that the NYSC, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and traditional rulers, worked tirelessly to secure the release of the Corps members.
“Through the combined effort of the security agencies, especially the Nigerian Army and the NYSC, the mission started yielding results with the rescue of the first set of four prospective Corps members,” he added.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing leadership and support to the Corps.
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