Lagos Backs Discipline Corps

The Lagos State government has expressed support for  the activities of “Discipline Corps”, an organisation set up to check indiscipline and truancy among students.

The organisation which started its activities in 2003 recently got the approval of the Lagos State government to extend its activities to all public schools in the state.

Speaking on the aims and objectives of the Corps, the Chief Corps Commander, Discipline Corps, Olalekan Lawal, said the Corps is mandated to ensure that students obey school rules and regulations and at the same time provide employment for the unemployed youths in the country.

“The youthful age is like a river of life that nobody ever crosses twice. Youths are very energetic and highly vulnerable. We feel it is necessary to redirect these energies towards meaningful activities that can deter them from taking to criminality,” he said.

Activities of the Corps include assisting environmental Task Force during sanitation exercise, organising trainings and seminars for students/ youths.

Lawal revealed to P.M.NEWS that about 240 officers have been trained in Lagos to actualise the objective of the Corps and that more schools now request for their services to combat truancy.

Lawal explained that membership of the Corps is two-folds — the Regular Discipline Corps made up of permanent staff who get monthly remuneration and Special Discipline Corps comprising professional volunteers who are after the growth and development of youths and the society at large.

Speaking on their constraints, Lawal identified resistance to changes and rules and finance as part of their setback. He however, appreciated the support of the Lagos State government.

—FEMI AYODELE