Thirteen corps members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nasarawa State are to get extension of service for various misconduct committed during the service year.
Mr Stephen Dewan, NYSC Coordinator in the state, made this known in Lafia on Thursday, during the passing out parade for the 2019 Batch “A” corps members in the state.
“Your Excellency sir, a total of 2,414 corps members are passing out today while 13 of them are facing various disciplinary cases and will have their service extended based on the offences they committed during the service year,” he said.
Dewan explained that the punishments would take effect after final ratification by the Nasarawa State NYSC Governing Board.
“Some corps members erred during the service year while others left their places of primary assignment without permission among other offences.
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“The extension will depend on the gravity of their misconduct,” he said.
The coordinator said the decision to punish the erring corps members was based on the recommendation of the state NYSC Disciplinary Committee.
Dewan also noted that three corps members had distinguished themselves for the various community development projects they embarked on and completed and would soon be rewarded accordingly.
The coordinator advised the corps members who were passing out to take advantage of the skills they acquired during their service year for self-employment.
He urged them to take advantage of the skills acquisition training to support themselves pending when a government job would come.
Dewan also thanked the state government for supporting NYSC and creating a conducive atmosphere for the scheme to meet its goals in the state.
In his speech, Gov. Abdullahi Sule represented by his Deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, commended the patriotism, commitment and diligence of the corps members in the past 12 months of their national service.
“I have no doubt that the various communities and establishments in which you served have benefitted immensely from your intellectual prowess and community development activities.
“I, therefore, urge you to continue in this spirit for the overall social and economic development of our country,” Sule said.
The governor also urged them to take advantage of the skills acquisition and entrepreneurial development training they received during the service year to reduce poverty among graduate youths and to generate employment and create wealth for themselves instead of waiting for white collar jobs.
“In the same vein, I implore you to key into the initiatives of the Federal and State Governments aimed at empowering the youth.
“These programmes include the National Directorate of Employment Entrepreneurial Development Scheme, the Social Investment Programme, among others with a view to addressing unemployment in Nigeria,” he said.
He also urged them to shun all destructive tendencies and resist being used as political thugs, kidnappers and agents of economic sabotage, among others. (NAN)
