Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has lauded the new governing board of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for introducing reforms that would improve the welfare of youth corps members as well as provide employment opportunities for them after their service period.
The Governor, who made the commendation when the Governing Board of the NYSC led by its Chairman, Chief Gordon Bozimo paid him a courtesy call in Government House, Yenagoa, reiterated the importance of the NYSC scheme in nation building while expressing his administration’s commitment to partner with the Federal Government to continually promote ideals of the scheme in all ramifications.“There is no doubt that the NYSC is a scheme that we all need to support.
I want to commend the Federal Government and the President for the renewed vigour and renewed interest in enabling the NYSC to achieve its set objectives in this trying period where, more than ever before, the NYSC itself has become a victim of the contradiction of our nation.“But the NYSC is a pointer to the hopes and possibilities of this country because that is a body that talks about service as the first port of call for a lot of our young people. That is where they get introduced to the ideals of service and nation building”.
Expressing the challenges of youth development and empowerment in the state, Hon. Dickson called for collaboration between Government and the NYSC to train youths, noting that it was one of the reasons that informed government’s decision to speed up work at the permanent NYSC orientation camp in Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state.
He explained that, some of the facilities at the orientation camp will also be used in the implementation of government’s training programmes for youths in the State.“In our state, we are doing everything we can to work with the Federal Government on a lot of concepts; a lot of initiatives and the NYSC is not an exception. When we took over, we saw the plan to build a world class permanent orientation camp, not only for the use of the NYSC, but also for the training of our youths. We thought that because of youth challenges, we should quickly finish that facility which has gone very far”
According to him, the road that is leading to the orientation camp has been completed and facilities at the camp include, hostels, administrative blocks and others which are presently under construction, pointing out that when fully completed, the NYSC permanent orientation camp will be one of the best in the country.Responding to various requests made by the NYSC Governing Board Chairman, Governor Dickson directed the NYSC State Director to liaise with the office of the Secretary to the State Government to work out modalities on how best government can assist them.On the security situation in the State, he assured the NYSC Chairman of the safety of corps members posted to the State, noting however that the issue of employment of youth corps members after their service period should be the concern of all stakeholders both in government and the private sector.
The Governor used the occasion to call on local government councils, traditional rulers and opinion leaders to support and encourage all the corps members serving within communities in the state.Earlier in his remarks, the NYSC helmsman, Chief Gordon Bozimo said the visit was part of their oversight functions to all the states of the federation.Chief Bozimo commended Governor Seriake Dickson for his exemplary leadership qualities, while expressing his appreciation to the Governor for embarking on a permanent and befitting NYSC orientation camp in the state as well as various welfare and financial supports to corps members.
He informed the Governor of plans to introduce reforms in the NYSC scheme to improve on the welfare of corps members, provide employment opportunities and to give them a safe environment to effectively discharge their national assignments.
The NYSC Governing Board Chairman also appealed to the Governor to provide better office accommodation, vehicle for monitoring and life jackets for the corps members, especially those serving in the riverine areas.
Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State
04/07/2013
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