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NYSC: Pay Attention To Security Of Corps Members, D-G Urges Employers
The Director-General, National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yushau Ahmed, has urged employers of corps members to pay particular attention to security of corps members posted to their organisations.
Ahmed, represented by Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, NYSC acting Zonal Coordinator, South East, gave the advice during the 2023 Corps Employers Workshop yesterday in Enugu with the theme “Enhancing the Wellbeing of Corps Members for Optimum Productivity.”
He said that the workshop was aimed at receiving feedback from strategic stakeholders on the strength, weakness and potentials of the scheme, as well as chart ways of strengthening its operations in the post jubilee era.
“We are also expected to review ways of addressing the welfare needs of corps members in their places of primary assignment and deliberate on how to ensure safety of corps members in their places of assignments.
“We are expected to look at the roles of the corps employers in community development service, skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development, security during service and health initiative for rural dwellers,” he said.
The NYSC Enugu State Coordinator, Mrs Gladys Adama, said that the theme of this year’s workshop was more apt in the present situation, where Nigerians were faced with increased insecurity coupled with the dwindling resources to adequately take care of the ever expanding corps population.
Adama added that security of corps members was an issue that must always be given adequate attention.
She urged the employers not to apply for corps members if they could not provide accommodations for them or give them money in lieu of accommodations.
During the business session, Mrs I. Oladipo, Deputy Director, Account, NYSC South East, presented a paper on “The role of NYSC and corps employers in impacting the host community through community development service, health initiative for rural dwellers, skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development in the post jubilee era.”
Oladipo said that community development service programme of the NYSC was one out of the four cardinal programmes of the NYSC scheme in which corps members contribute positively to the development of their host communities.
She added that the NYSC skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development projects reached out to all Corps members mobilised for the one-year mandatory service to the nation.
She urged the employers to emphasise more on the welfare of the corps members as well as correct them when they go wrong.
Meanwhile, Mrs Dimma Anyaocha, Assistant Director, Operations, NYSC, South East, in her presentation on “The role of corps employers in ensuring the welfare and security of Corps members”, said that corps employers who played a major role in the welfare and security of the past 50 years deserve to be celebrated.
Anyaocha identified notable victories of the employers, adding that some of them had successfully retrained or employed corps members after their service year, some corps members, with the recommendation from the corps employers, had won NYSC awards and even moved on to get jobs in other sectors, among others.
Some employers, who participated, urged the NYSC to provide accommodations for the corps members in all the Local Government Areas.
A warrant Officer, David Igbidi, from Air Force Comprehensive School, Agbani, Enugu, said his school had adequate conducive accommodations for the corps members posted to the school.
He requested for NYSC medical personnel to be posted to his school.
Mr Johnson Ugochinyelu of Akpugoeze High School, Akpugoeze, Enugu, said that most of the schools in Enugu did not have accommodations for their staff, therefore, the corps members would find it difficult to be given accommodation.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.