The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has tasked employers who take in serving corps members into their organization to also ensure the welfare of serving members as a core priority.
The management of NYSC made this call amid fears of insecurity and sexual assault on corps members serving in different states of the country.
The Enugu State NYSC coordinator, Mr Sam Ujogu made the call during the NYSC Corps Employers’ Workshop held on Wednesday.
Ujogu said that the security of corps members in all the local government areas of the state was an issue that must be given proper attention at all times.
“We have to deliberate on practical means of protecting corps members from harassment from unscrupulous elements in the communities where they are serving. Also, the issue of sexual assault on female corps members demands our urgent attention in order to uphold the public confidence in the scheme.” Ujogu said.
He, however, applauded employers who had provided a conducive environment for corps members sent to them but appealed to them to do more.
The NYSC Director-General, Brig-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, earlier in his speech said that the workshop served as an avenue for the exchange of ideas that would help to improve the scheme.
Ibrahim who was represented by the Director, NYSC, South-East Area Office, Mrs Ngozi Nwatarali, said that the young people who registered to be part of national service had been positioned as change agents and key contributors to the development of Nigeria through ideas from such fora.
“The comfort of corps members during the orientation programme is one of the key corps welfare provisions. Accordingly, management has continued to sensitise state governments on the need to provide adequate facilities in the camps,” Ibrahim said.
