25th July, 2011
The NYSC on Sunday appealed to states and local government councils in the country to increase members’ monthly allowances, in line with current realities.
The Director General, Brig.-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga made the appeal in Maiduguri on Sunday
in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The NYSC in June increased the monthly allowance of corps members from N9,775 to N19,800.
He said “states and councils should work toward increasing the allowances paid to NYSC members serving under them, in line with current realities.
“They should also strive to upgrade orientation camps and transit camps to provide minimal comfort for members serving in their areas.’’
The NYSC boss said that the increasing number of graduates from Nigerian universities and abroad had overstretched facilities in the orientation camps.
He said: “We have more than 220,000 youths currently serving under the scheme. Out of this number, 95,000 are members of the Batch ‘B’ 2011 scheme.
“This is the first time we are having such a large number in a single batch.’’
Tsiga added that the NYSC was already working on plans to expand some of the orientation camps to accomodate the increase.
“We are lucky to have gotten a piece of land from the Borno State Government in Maiduguri for the expansion.
“I believe other states can copy from this by allocating land for the expansion of the orientation camps in their areas,’’ he said.
He pointed out that NYSC members deserved respect and dignity from members of the society as they were serving their fatherland.
He said: “My main target as the DG of the NYSC is to boost the image of members in the eyes of the general public because of their enermous contributions to national development.
“I want to be remembered for making sure that corps members were respected both nationally and internationally for serving Nigeria.
“Each time I wake up in the morning I always pray to God to give me the wisdom to put smiles on peoples’ faces.
“That is why I always strive hard to ensure that I assist individuals in every way I can.’’