No fewer than 18 members of the National Youth Service Corps, 2019 Batch C serving in Ebonyi State on Thursday have been directed to repeat service year for allegedly abscondment from service.
The corps members also received various degrees of punishment for flouting the rules and regulations of the scheme.
The State Coordinator of the Corps, Ann Obe stated this during the passing out parade of the batch c Corps members at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium Abakaliki.
She said the Corps members who absconded for 3 months or more will repeat the service year while others who absconded for about a month will have the number of days they absconded doubled.
However, a total of 2097 Corps Members participated in the 2019 Batch C passing out parades.
She said that out of this number, 4 were given the State Honours Awards in recognition of their outstanding performance during their stay in the state..
A few others, she said, also received the Chairman’s and State Coordinator’s awards respectively.
“Also, a total of 18 Corps members will have to receive various levels of punishment in line with the NYSC bye laws 1993 for various offences committed”.
The four recipients of the State Honours Award are Temitope Victoria Makanjuola, Nwosu Adaobi, Ngweche Chukwuma and Okeke Chiamaka.
In a remark, the governor of Ebonyi state Chief David Umahi, represented by the commissioner of youths and sports Mr. Charles Akpuenika
urged the Corps Members to utilize the skills they learnt during the service year to create a better future for themselves.
“Reports reaching me indicates that you were committed to the skills Acquisition Programme introduced by the NYSC scheme to empower corps members for self employment.
“I am equally aware of other interventionist programmes done by government agencies and the NYSC, aimed at giving you access to credit facilities for self-employment”
“I urge you to utilize these opportunities to create a better future for yourselves. With the present scarcity of job openings, I strongly believe that empowering the youths through skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development is the surest way to reduce the current level of unemployment”
The Governor commended the Corps members for their contribution in the areas of healthcare delivery, education and social services which he noted will forever be cherished.
“I salute your patriotic spirit and efforts during the service year. The success you recorded is a proof of your endurance and abiding faith in the unity of our nation” he noted.
In a vote of thanks, Miss Okeke Chiamaka thanked the state government and the NYSC for the opportunity given to them to serve.
She promised that the Corps Members will utilise all they have learnt and strive to be good ambassadors of the NYSC and State.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
