NYSC Threatens To Blacklist Employers Over Poor Corps Members’ Welfare

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned that employers who fail to provide accommodation and transportation for corps members posted to their organisations risk being blacklisted from participating in the scheme.

The Director-General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu gave the warning during an interactive session with corps members in Lokoja, Kogi State, as part of his working visit to the state.

According to a statement shared on the scheme’s Facebook handle on Tuesday, Nafiu said employers must meet the minimum welfare requirements for corps members or forfeit access to their services.

“Any employer who did not provide accommodation and transportation for Corps Members would be blacklisted from enjoying Corps services,” Nafiu said.

He said employers must improve the welfare of corps members under their care, adding that organisations unwilling to meet the minimum welfare standards would no longer enjoy the services of corps members.

Nafiu also assured corps members of the Federal Government’s commitment to their security and welfare and appealed to state and local governments, as well as other stakeholders, to support the scheme.

“The Federal Government is resolutely committed to your security and welfare,” he said.

The NYSC boss urged corps members to remain security conscious by reporting suspicious activities to relevant security agencies, noting that security was everyone’s responsibility. He also charged them to be disciplined, dedicated to duty and avoid acts capable of tarnishing the image of their families, alma maters and the NYSC.

Nafiu encouraged the corps members to take the post-camp Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme seriously, describing it as a pathway to self-reliance. He advised them to identify business opportunities within their host communities and begin small-scale ventures during their service year.

“Be proactive, identify business opportunities within your host communities, and start making some money for yourselves even now,” he said.

Acknowledging the country’s economic challenges, the NYSC Director-General also urged corps members to cultivate a savings culture and manage their finances prudently.

“Take your service year as a training ground for future financial management by managing your finances wisely,” he added.

Earlier, the Kogi State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Tochi Chris-Moneke, thanked the Director-General for the visit, describing it as a demonstration of his commitment to the welfare and security of corps members and staff.

She also disclosed that the state secretariat would soon organise a corps employers’ workshop and a Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme.