Chime Charges Youths Against Selfish Politicians

Nigerian youths have been  advised not to allow themselves to be used as instruments by politicians to destabilise the country in the forthcoming 2011 general elections.

Enugu State Governor, Barrister Sullivan I. Chime, gave the advice on the occasion of the passing out ceremony of the 2009 NYSC Batch “C” corps members at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu recently.

The State Chief Executive, who spoke through his deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, also urged the corps members to comport themselves during the forthcoming voters registration and the 2011 general election, adding that they should play the part of an unbiased umpire while participating in the exercise.

Governor Chime applauded the idea of integrating NYSC members into activities of other institutions of government such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for electoral purposes and the National Population Commission (NPC) for census purposes.

This, he said has helped to expand the scope of service of corps members and make them more useful to the development of the nation.

The Governor also thanked the corps members who served in the State for their contributions to the sustenance of the educational and health sectors, among other spheres of service, especially in the rural areas.

He also noted with satisfaction that their commitment and warm participation in health care delivery, free medical service, campaign against HIV/AIDS pandemic, among others, had been documented by government.

Also in an address, the Chairman, State NYSC Governing Board and the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Matthias Idu , disclosed that six corps members were honoured by the State Government for their sterling performance in community development services.

Commending those honoured, Mr. Idu said posterity would continue to portray their foot print for leaving their host communities better than they met them.

The Chairman assured that Enugu State Government would continue to demonstrate its commitments to the welfare of corp members, adding that the ongoing renovation of the NYSC Orientation Permanent Site at Awgu, which would be completed soon, was a clear demonstration of that commitment.

He, however, advised the corps members keep alive all the knowledge and skills acquired during the service year as they venture into the labour market.

Idu also urged the corps members to shun all forms of corruption, ethnicity, religious bigotry and electoral fraud as the 2011 polls draws nearer.

In a farewell address, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mr. Aniefiok Nathaniel Okpogete, expressed regret that while some corps members were busy sacrificing for the nation building, others were busy playing truancy by abandoning their service stations and embarking on unauthorised journeys.

He revealed that such corps members had been disciplined in line with the service bye-laws, adding that three corps members have been remobilised, while seven others have their services extended to various periods depending on the gravity of their offences.

He commended Governor Sullivan Chime for keeping his promise to renovate the NYSC Orientation Camp, appealing to him to make the contractor handling the renovation to expedite action “as the orientation course for Batch ‘C’ 2010 is at hand”.