800 Corps Members Redeployed from Kano Due to Insecurity

AFRIK UPDATE

News/AFRICA
NIGERIA

By Ibrahim Shuaibu,  Toba Suleiman and  Hammed Shittu

                             

Worried by the spate of attacks and continued atmosphere of insecurity in most of the Northern states, the Kano State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Alhaji Bashir Yakassai, has announced that 800 out of the 2,129 posted to the state for this year’s National Youth Service programme have been redeployed to other states.

Yakassai, who disclosed this to reporters Tuesday in Kano, shortly after the passing out parade of Batch ‘C’ of the corps members, stated that some of those redeployed are contemplating cancelling their redeployment.

“As at today, about 700 corps members have been redeployed out of 2,129 posted to the state. The doors are still open to whoever wishes to be redeployed for one reason or the other, in accordance with the NYSC guidelines,” he said.

He stated that no corps members would be posted to banks or companies they perceive to be lucrative, instead, they would be posted to rural areas where their services are mostly required, especially in agriculture, health care and education sectors, while the married corps members would serve in the state capital.

Also speaking, the state governor, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, warned that no corps member posted to government establishments should be rejected.

Kwankwaso, who was represented by the state deputy governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, urged corps members to be ready, at all times, to contribute their quota to salvage the country for better development.

The governor also advised corps members to forget the era of white collar jobs by bracing up to face the challenge of the global economic slowdown so that they can become self reliant.

However, most of the corps members interviewed by reporters said though they would love to stay and serve in Kano State but due to the insecurity in the state, they have no option than to seek redeployment.

Also concerned about the security situation for the corps members, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji  Abdulfatah Ahmed, Tuesday charged traditional rulers and security agencies in the state to protect the lives and property of corps members serving in Kwara.

Ahmed gave the charge at the NYSC orientation camp at Yipakta in Edu Local Government Council of the state during the closing ceremony of the orientation course for the 2012 Batch ‘C’ corps members.

The governor, who was represented at the occasion by the state Head of Service, Alhaji Mohammed Dabarako, said the responsibility of protecting the corps members should be a collective one and not left for government alone to shoulder.

He however said that concrete measures had been put in place by the government to provide the members with security in all parts of the state. He assured the corps members that his administration would create the enabling environment for them to apply the skills and expertise acquired during the orientation exercise.

Earlier, the state Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Ngozi Ezekwe, advised the corps members to be security conscious, asking them to avoid travelling without permission, dressing decently and not to live or move alone.

Ezekwe said that the management of the NYSC had resolved to reinvigorate the Community Development Service (CDS) programme and charged the corps members to get involved in more creative, challenging and concrete development projects aimed at nation building in communities they would be serving.

She added: “Reflect on all you have been taught on skills acquisition and work towards being employers of labour rather than being job seekers right from now.”

In the same vein, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, charged corps members in her state to work in tandem with the main objective of the programme aimed at fostering national unity.

She gave the charge at the closing ceremony of the Batch ‘C’ orientation course held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Ise/Orun/Emure Ekiti.

The deputy governor further pointed out that in addition to the NYSC scheme as being a veritable tool to achieving the quest for national unity, government at all levels has since viewed the programme as a proper avenue for building the moral of Nigerian youths by giving them the opportunity to learn about the higher ideals of national achievements.

She enjoined the corps members to use the skills they have acquired through the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Trainings to improve their financial status and become independent, as well impart this to their host communities by teaching them to be self-reliant, thereby reducing unemployment in the country.

Olayinka also assured them of having a good time serving in the state, stating that Ekiti is very peaceful and its people loving and friendly, provided they (corps members) stayed away from societal vices.

Also, the Chairman, NYSC State Governing Board and Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Chief Folorunso Olabode, described the NYSC scheme as a major programme that affords the youth the opportunity to express themselves and to participate in the development of the nation.

The Ekiti State NYSC Coordinator, Baba-Ahmed Nurudeen Tunde, disclosed that 2,248 corps members had successfully participated in the 2012 Batch ‘C’ orientation course and that the participants had exhibited a great sense of maturity, discipline and great adaptability to camp life.

He expressed satisfaction that the three-week orientation programme had equipped the corps members mentally and physically, to enable them face the challenges of the service year.  He added that the practical training in skills acquisition were additional advantages that will make the service year more rewarding.