The Director General of NYSC, Brig-Gen. Johnson Bamidele has clarified the charge of N4,000 imposed on fresh graduates expected to join the scheme, saying it is not true that corps members are being asked to pay to serve their country.

He explained that, rather the NYSC and the government appreciated the enormous sacrifice that corps members have made, and continue to make for the unity and development of this nation.

According to him, the new charge was conceived in that spirit, adding, “based on feedbacks and requests from past corps members, the initiative was designed to lessen the costs and risks associated with corps members travelling to their schools to pick up call-up letters.”

He said that paying N4,000 to process call-up letters on-line was a choice for those who prefer that option. It is not a condition for national service. So, no one is being asked to pay to serve, as any form of discrimination or sanction.

Brig-Gen. Bamidele further stated that the money was not just for printing call-up letters.

“It is for the entire package of on-line registration which requires the deployment of IT hardware and software and personnel to orientation camps all over the country but which also gives those who subscribe to it the advantage of processing their registration on-line, saving time during registration at the orientation camps.”

He pointed out that with on-line registration, those who are unfortunate to lose their letters can identify themselves with their fingerprints. He said that foreign-educated corps members can stay wherever they are based and process their call-up letters on-line if they choose that option instead of coming to Abuja for the verification of their certificates.