NYSC CALLS FOR UPGRADE OF FACILITIES AT THE AWGU ORIENTATION CAMP

The Enugu State Coordinator of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Alhaji Ahmed Wada Ikaka, has appealed for the upgrade of facilities at the Awgu Orientation Camp.

Ikaka also reminded the Enugu State Government of the need to make good its promise to urgently address the problem as reflected in its 2018 State budget.

Ikaka made the appeal during the swearing-in ceremony of 2018 Batch ‘C’ Stream 1 National Youth corps members at the Permanent Orientation Camp in Agwu.

He said that the appeal became necessary following the inadequacy of facilities in the camp to accommodate the increasing number of corps members deployed to the state.

“We seek your intervention to reconstruct the largest male hostel, which has the capacity to accommodate 500 corps members to meet the rising increase in the population of participants in the scheme.

“As mentioned during the Batch ‘A’ orientation camp, #49 million has been provided in the state’s 2018 budget as well as #16 million for renovation of staff quarters.

“Another #16 million is for the commencement of the construction of perimeter fence, which I started last year,” Ikaka said.

The NYSC State Coordinator said the interest of the governor in improving the welfare of corps members needed to be commended.

He, however, pointed out that lack of utility vehicle had hindered the operations of the scheme in the state and appealed to the governor to redeem his pledge of providing two vehicles to them.

“We are expected to embark on sensitisation of all corps members in the 17 local government areas of the state from November to prepare them for the 2019 general election.

“This important national assignment is indeed in jeopardy due to lack of operational vehicles,” he said.

The State Coordinator explained that the corps members while in camp would undergo leadership and citizen training, military drills, language studies and entrepreneurial orientation.

Declaring the orientation exercise open, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said that his administration would continue to provide the enabling environment for the scheme to thrive in the state.

Ugwuanyi said that the ongoing effort at restoring electricity to the camp testified to the state government’s commitments to the welfare of corps members.

“The regular payment of the allowances of corps members serving in state establishments and the upgrade of facilities in the camp testify to our commitment to corps members’ welfare,” Ugwuany said.

The Governor noted that the contributions of corps members in the development of education and primary health care in the state were unquantifiable.

“I, therefore, urge you to emulate your predecessors by continuing to sustain the achievements of the scheme,” Ugwuanyi said.

Two corps members, Mr. Miracle Emmanuel Banigo and Miss Oyiwodu Faith Ojile, expressed satisfaction with the process so far.

2,200 (two thousand, two hundred) corps members swore the oath of allegiance during the opening ceremony.

CHUKWUMA EZEOGU