By Uche Onyeali
Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier-General Yushau Dogara has disclosed that corps member would start receiving N77,000 stipend.
General Dogara, who confirmed this during a working visit to the temporary orientation camp in Kaduna State, however, reiterated the scheme’s zero-tolerance policy for protests and indiscipline among serving corps members.
The director-general said in the last three months, several corps members had attempted to protest, resulting in disciplinary actions against them.
He reminded corps members that the scheme’s bye-laws clearly outline the consequences of indiscipline, and corps members are expected to adhere to these rules.
“In NYSC, just like in the army and the police, we don’t allow protest because we are disciplined and law-abiding. So whenever anybody wants to deceive you, go back and read your bye-laws.
“In the last three months, we had a few corps members who were indiscipline. They attempted to protest. So, we are keeping them behind due to their act,” he said.
Dogara expressed concern over the safety of corps members, particularly with regard to night journeys, warning that most night journeys are hazardous and have resulted in accidents and kidnappings.
According to him, the scheme has lost several corps members to night journeys and it is essential to take proactive measures to prevent such incidents, urging them to desist from night journeys and prioritise their safety.
“My concern has been these incessant night journeys that have claimed so many lives. Sometimes they are involved in accidents and other times, kidnapping and we never recover them.
“One of my top agenda is the security and welfare of corps members which is why anywhere I go, I must stress these two issues”, he added.
On corps members allowance, he announced that government has agreed to double the monthly allowance from N33,000 to N77,000.
The increase is expected to reflect in their allowances soon, pending the completion of the necessary processes, especially the cash backing, he assured.
“I need to tell you that whenever government increases salary, we, in the NYSC, approach it for increment in corps members allowances and there was never a time government did not respond to us.
“This time, it has agreed to double the amount from N33,000 to N77,000. We are only waiting for cash back because other processes have been communicated to us,” he confirmed.
