The National Youth Service Corps has expressed concern over the lack of preparedness of some states for orientation camps, saying about 26 states are currently owing corps members.
Some, NYSC said, owe about two years arrears.
The organisation which threatened to shut down any camp found to be unsuitable during orientation exercise, said it is considering not hosting orientation course in two states due to their poor and dilapidated camp facilities.
The Director-General of NYSC, Brig. General Johnson Olawumi gave the warning during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Batch ‘A’ Pre-orientation workshop in Katsina, with theme: “Effective leadership and synergy in camp administration: Essential tool for a successful orientation course.”
Participants were drawn from the NYSC top management, state coordinators as well as collaborating partners including the Army, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the NDLEA, citizenship and leadership training centre and the Nigerian Red Cross, a statement issued on Wednesday by spokesperson of NYSC, Mrs. Abosede Aderibigbe revealed.
The DG reminded state governments that the provision and maintenance of facilities in orientation camps was their statutory responsibility, and advised them to pay more attention to the discharge of that responsibility.
The NYSC DG insisted that facilities in some camps were not only appalling, but also unfit for human habitation.
Olawumi also appealed to the state governments to accord priority to the welfare of corps members in their domains by ensuring prompt payment of their state allowance for transportation and accommodation.
However, he praised the Katsina State government for its contributions to the successful administration of the scheme in the state, especially through routine renovation of the orientation camp and corps lodges as well as augmentation of feeding allowance of corps members in camp.
In a message to the opening ceremony, the Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, represented by his deputy Alhaji Mannir Yakubu said his administration remained a committed friend of the NYSC, adding that it had, since inception, taken issues of security and welfare of corps members as matters of top priority.
The governor spoke of the need to improve synergy among all stakeholders, especially during orientation courses, towards actualization of the dreams of the founding fathers of the scheme.
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