The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has stated that its orientation camps are not five-star hotels but are still among well organised locations for the grooming of Nigerian graduates.
The NYSC in a release on Saturday by the Director of Press Relations, Eddy Megwa, said since inception, the scheme had mobilised over 10,000,000 graduates, noting that every service year was segmented into: Orientation Course, Primary Assignment, Community Development Service, and Winding-Up/Passing-Out.
According to him, Corps Members’ welfare still remained a cardinal policy thrust of the NYSC, adding that there had been instances when ailing corps members were flown abroad for medical issues that defied local treatments at the expense of the corps.
The statement reads in part; “NYSC is into partnership with agencies such as the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Federal Fire Service, Federal and State Ministries of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Pharmaceutical Companies traditional rulers, National Union of Road Transport Workers and Transport Companies, with view to ensuring a holistic training, remolding, welfare and security of the Corps Members throughout the duration of the service year.
“The NYSC Act assigns responsibilities to the Federal, State and local Governments towards the running of the Scheme. These range from funding to provision of orientation camps and facilities in all states; as well as provision of Corps lodges in all local government areas among others.
“Suffice it to add that the National Health insurance scheme fully takes charge of all health issues during the Orientation programme. They provide drugs and medical treatment through medical Doctors that are Consultants, Pharmacists, Nurses, medical lab Scientists, all drawn from the tertiary medical centres and Teaching hospitals who are resident in camp throughout the 21-day duration of Orientation course.
“To say the least, reports from the various inspections and tours have always guided NYSC Management in policy formulations and NYSC Orientation camp which is not a 3 or 5-star hotel is among the most well organised settings for grooming of graduate youths.
“It therefore leaves a sour taste in the mouth when some individuals with ulterior motive cast aspersions on the NYSC, without background or requisite information on the subject of the discourse. More often than not, the aspersions arise as a result of unwholesome requests turned down which is unknown to the unsuspecting public.
“Corps Members’ welfare remains a cardinal policy thrust of the National Youth Service Corps. There had been instances ailing Corps Members are flown abroad for medical issues that defy local treatment at the expense of the Corps. The Corps will never shirk its responsibility of catering to the general welfare of Corps Members.”