The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in Delta said it has extended the service year of 32 corps members for violating the NYSC bye-laws.
Alao Olusegun, the NYSC Coordinator in Delta said this on Thursday at the passing out ceremony of 2021 Batch “A” stream II corps members at Cenotaph in Asaba.
He also said that it had re-mobilised four other corps members for a repeat of service year whenever they resurfaced.
He said that a corps member won the NYSC State Governing Board Chairman’s award as a mark of recognition of his hard work, in uplifting the community where he served.
“While five others got the state coordinators commendation latter,” he said.
The state coordinator commended discharged corps members for making an impact in their host communities.
He also urged them to be good ambassadors of the NYSC even as they had completed their service.
Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, however, urged the corps members to be good ambassadors of the country.
Mr Okowa who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths Development, Ifeanyi Egwunyenga said the governor had put modalities on ground to strengthen the social economic and human capital development of the scheme.
According to him, various programmes were initiated to support youth development and corps members have also benefited which includes the NYSC SAED programme.
“The state government has contributed to the welfare of corps members who served in the state through adequate infrastructural development.
“I appreciate the NYSC governing board chairman and members, traditional ruler, community leaders’ corps employers for their positive role in the smooth operation of the scheme,” he said.
2921 corps members of the 2021 “A” stream II deployed to the state were discharged at the ceremony.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 23 Corps members of 2021 Batch A Stream 11 will repeat the service year in Anambra for running afoul of the principles of the scheme.
Blessing Iruma, the Coordinator of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra disclosed this at the passing out ceremony for 2,701 in Onitsha on Thursday.
Mrs Iruma said five others were given extensions for periods ranging from two weeks upwards.
She congratulated the successful corps members and prayed for their success while urging those who penalised for various offenses to turn a new leaf.
“I am excited to address you today as you mark your formal disengagement from national service.
“In all honesty, it is with mixed feelings that I bid you farewell, just after stepping in as the 14th Coordinator a week ago.
“A total of 2,701 corps members have been found worthy to be discharged from the national service.
“Some of you have excelled in the year under review while a few of you who ran afoul of the rules and regulations governing the Scheme.
“Consequently, 23 are to repeat the service year while five have been given extension of service,” she said.
Mrs Iruma said the NYSC would reward those who excelled and urged those who had found home in Anambra to stay back if they wished.
She thanked them for their contributions to nation building through teaching assignment, medical, charity visitations, skills acquisitions and community service.
The Coordinator warned the ex corps members to shun corruption, sharp practices, internet fraud, get rich quick syndrome and other vices as they went into the larger society.
According to her, Anambra is entrepreneurial in nature so I encourage you to imbibe the spirit so you can add value to your lives and that of others.
“The national environmental sanitation exercise I participated in last weekend even endeared you to Anambra people the more.
“Rest assured that the reward due you will not elude you, I want to say a big thank you to you for upholding one of the major policies of the Scheme by leaving your footprints in the sands of time here in Anambra.
“I am aware of the usual fear of unemployment that grips some unprepared ones but the scheme has prepared you with skills and funding options for post service challenges.
“I charge you to step into the outside world with confidence and the Almighty God will definitely bless the work of your hand,”
Similarly, the NYSC says it has extended the service year of 38 corps members in Enugu State for various offences.
Sam Ujogu, Coordinator of the scheme in the state, made this known on Thursday in Enugu during the passing-out ceremony of the 2021 Batch ‘A’, Stream two, corps members.
He also said that 12 corps members who absconded from service would be remobilised to start service afresh whenever they resurfaced.
Mr Ujogu said that the sanctions were as a result of the offences committed by the affected corps members which contravened the Bye-Laws of the scheme.
He, however, described as satisfactory the conduct of the corps members that were given the nod to participate in the passing out parade.
Mr Ujogu said that one corps member, Onuegbu Jennifer Amarachi (EN/21A/1303) who was serving at Enugu North Local Government Secretariat, died on Sept. 5, 2021.
He commended the state government for its goodwill and assistance aimed at improving the scheme.
Mr Ujogu said that the scheme was in dire need of a utility vehicle for effective supervision of corps members across the state.
He said that the corps members started their national service on May 18, 2021.
Mr Ujogu said that the event was the first ceremonial passing out parade since 2020 due to the restrictions on public gatherings necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic.
“To my outgoing corps members, I congratulate you for acquitting yourselves creditably during the service year.
“We appreciate your commitments to the realisation of the goals of the NYSC scheme,” Mr Ujogu said.
Responding, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, urged the outgoing corps members to shun negative tendencies, including ‘yahoo yahoo’.
Mr Ugwuanyi, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Special Matters, Chief Uwakwe Azikiwe, urged them to be confident in their abilities to earn decent living from honest endeavours.
The governor also appealed to them to shun the get-quick syndrome acts and be careful with the kind of company they would keep.
“Given your certificates and strengthened by the experience of the national service, you must remain focused, resolute and confident in your abilities to earn a decent living from genuine endeavours,” he said.
Mr Ugwuanyi reiterated the state government’s resolve to the development of the scheme and improvement of the welfare of corps members.
The governor commended them for their various community development initiatives in education, healthcare delivery and campaigns against corruption.
He commended those of them that participated in the conduct of the last Anambra governorship election.
“There is no doubt that it is the sacrifice of patriotic youths like you that gives us hope of a better democracy and a stronger nation,” Mr Ugwuanyi said.
NAN
