BY CALEB AYANSINA
ABUJA—Federal Government has said it will stop deployment of corps members to oil companies, banks and other private organisations from next year.

Minister of Youth Development, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, who stated this during a visit to the National Youth Service Corps,  Orientation Camp in Paiko, Niger State, noted that corps members posted to some organisations were being used to provide cheap labour.

Bolaji, who explained that the money given to some corps members was not commensurate with the service they rendered to such organisations, said no corps member will be posted to private companies unless there was an undertaken to employ them after their service year.

He said this was enough reason for them not to employ because they have steady supply of corps members.

He noted that this was indirectly contributing to youth unemployment in the country and must be stopped.

The minister said:   “As from next year, by the grace of God we will ensure that you that are wearing this uniform are serving Nigeria, you are not going to seat in some oil companies or some banks, providing cheap labour to bank and given them the reason not to employ because they have stead supply of corpers.

“Why should they employ any body? So we will ensure that we stop this supply of cheap labour by corps members, if you need our corps members, you will give us guarantee that you will give them employment. This is what we must do, we shall continue to guarantee of your security, just try to do your best.

Bolaji acknowledged that there is challenge of insecurity in the country, but maintained that it is not strong enough to scrap the scheme.

He said there was need to reposition the scheme to the present aspiration of the people, saying that the reason for the creation of NYSC in the past 38 years is no sufficiently justify its existence.

“The NYSC was set up as one of the strategies of healing the wounds of civil war, 38 years after, the essence of formation of NYSC is still relevant. It is no longer enough reason to keep this thing going, we must find other reasons that satisfy the needs of Nigeria, that answer to your need as Nigerian.

“I know that wearing this uniform alone confers certain privileges on you, people want to protect you, give you something, because you are youth Corpers, but how did we reason that the uniform that use to offer us protection, is now the same uniform that exposing us to danger in some parts of the country.

“This has nothing to do with NYSC, so since this began to happen and people say scrap NYSC, why do you find it so difficult to scrap, the water is dirt throw the baby away with it, I have headache cut off the head, is that the solution? These are ordinary challenges that we shall overcome, some of you who are old enough in 1993 will think Nigeria will collapse in 1993, Nigeria will not collapse, this country will not collapse, this is the greatest Black Country on earth, it will not collapse”.

He urged Corps members to themselves as part of solutions to the problem facing the country.

“67million Nigeria youths, 43% of the unemployment rate among young people, the most sad thing is that the 43% unemployed rate among youth, that is the reality, that 80% of this percent don’t have more school leaving certificate, so you are privileged, you are elites, there are responsibilities that come with this elite and privilege, that is why you can avoid to be part of this problem. These students that do not have certificate are the part of the problems that you must have solution for”. Bolaji advised.

Earlier, the state coordinator, Hajiah Fadimatu Mohammed revealed that the 1, 775 registered in the camp have exhibited high sense of discipline, dedication and great commitment since their arrival.