NYSC director warns Corps members against defacing uniforms

The Acting Director of all NYSC formations in the Southwest geopolitical zone, Mrs Olubukola Oluwaremilekun Abiodun has warned corps members against defacing the national symbol of the NYSC uniform.

The acting Director expressed her dismay at the unpleasant attitude of some members of the service corps who are fond of adjusting the khaki shirt and trouser to a ridiculous and unacceptable pattern.

Mrs. Abiodun bared her mind while addressing the 2023 Batch ‘C’ (Stream 1) corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Ikare-Akoko during an oversight function and part of orientation course assignment.

“Gentlemen corps members, I need to emphasise the need for some of you under the name of fad and fashion to desist from the reckless adjustment of NYSC uniform given to you. The Scheme issued out a combat styled uniform to everyone and it is expected that you put it on the way it was given to you and not indulge in reckless amendment”.

“NYSC management frowns at the manner things are going and I need to tell you that the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Yisha’u Dogara Ahmed, DSS, fdc, fnli, MTRCN, MNARC and the top management has directed that such undignified practice must stop forthwith as anyone caught embarrassing the Scheme will face the consequence in line with the provisions of the NYSC Bye-Law”.

She queried the corps members if they had ever seen any member of the Nigeria Armed Forces or paramilitary put on uniform that cast aspersions on the image of their respective organisations.

Mrs. Abiodun who was the erstwhile acting Director, North Central Area Office charged the corps members to make decisions that will guarantee their future.

“My Children in the service to our dear fatherland. NYSC is the only period for you to make a decision that will make or mar your future development. I want to admonish you to act decisively so that the future will hold in stock for you the seed you plant today. This is your year. II want you to be focus-driven and calculative”.

“How do you explain at the end of the service year if you have nothing to show despite the intervention known as Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme designed for corps members to learn a skill right from the orientation camp and perfect it through the service year”. NYSC assembled well experienced professionals in the skill sets approved by management to give you a direction that will enhance your certificates and expand your capacity”.

She said that SAED is optionally compulsory as the Scheme is poised to eradicate unemployment in the country and take away from the streets graduate youths who have the capacity to be employers of labour.

“From the lectures on Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP), you would have realised how serious NYSC is poised to adequately prepare graduate youths for the labour market and protect them with funding options from financial institutions. Do not allow this well thought-out opportunity to elude you”.

The one time State Coordinator in Edo State disclosed that the welfare and security of corps members are non negotiable and urged anyone with sickness or ailment to seek adequate medical attention from the health facility approved by the Federal Government.

“Federal Government through NYSC has entered into workable memorandum of understanding with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to provide free medical services to corps members in all the 774 Local Governments nationwide and it is expected you avail yourself of this service”.

“Don’t pretend all is well when you are sick. Report immediately to the appropriate authority through your Local or Zonal Inspectors and we shall take prompt action because your health matters a lot to us. NYSC is not always at ease when you report health constraints to your parents”.

On the agitation to seek relocation on the pretext that Ondo is less industrialised, Mrs Abiodun opined that peer pressure led many to seek relocation which on the long run may turn out to be a bitter pill.

She further urged them to stay in the Sunshine State to serve their fatherland.