The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has bemoaned the inappropriate utilisation of the corps members by their employers, charging them to create conducive working environment for the corps members to optimise their potential.
Speaking at the 2023 Corps Employers Workshop with the theme ‘Optimising the Productivity of Corps Members Through Enhanced Welfare and Security’ held at Eti-Osa Local Government, Iru VI yesterday, the Director General, NYSC, Brig. Gen. Yushau Dogara Ahmed appealed to the employers of corps members to provide accommodation and security for them and engage them in productive activities.
Ahmed, who was represented by Mr. E. O. Oyakhilome, noted that while some of the employers such as ministries and local governments under-utilise the corps members by rendering them into mere errand boys, others such as private schools over-utilise them without catering to their welfare.
According to him, there are constant threats to the corps members in terms of harassment and kidnapping, poor working environment, and other challenges that render the corps members unreproductive in their places of primary assignments.
He also stated that many were not following the operational guidelines for the scheme.
He, therefore, urged the employers of corps members to make them productive and useful for the economy of the nation.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs. Yetunde Baderinwa, said the theme of this year’s workshop was apt and significant in the collective efforts to ensure the well-being and productivity of the dedicated corps members.
The Coordinator, who was represented by Assistant Director, Mrs. Oluwakemi Awolola said the workshop was a crucial platform where employers, government representatives, NYSC, and stakeholders converge to discuss, strategise, and collaborate on the development and enhancement of the National Youth Service Corps programme.
“The workshop is an avenue where stakeholders rub minds and channel thoughts to ensure a smooth operation regarding the expectation of all parties concerned. Our aim is to come up with strategies that will enhance the maximum productivity of our corps members while ensuring their respectable welfare and utmost security.
Reacting, some of the employers present at the workshop complained that many of the corps members were not ready to learn at work.
They said while some of them lack the required knowledge, they also lack the moral obligation to thrive in the working environment.
While declaring the workshop open, the Chairman of Eti-Osa Local Government, Hon. Saheed Adesegun Bankole who was represented by Mr. Shakirudeen Omoteji, charged the employers to support the corps members to grow in their working environment, while encouraging the corps members to be up and doing and make themselves useful and be productive.
