Ministers, DG, Others Okay NYSC Trust Fund For Nigeria’s Economic Recovery
BY EDMOND ODOK – Two members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) have joined the Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, in backing the proposed NYSC Trust Fund as an important tool to further drive Nigeria’s economic recovery agenda.
The two FEC members, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Muhammad Bello and Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Mr Sunday Dare, are in agreement with the NYSC boss that like others already in existence, the Trust Fund will strengthen the operations of the Scheme going forward.
Leading the charge at a symposium on the imperative of the proposed NYSCTF in Abuja on Monday, the NYSC Director-General had described the proposed Fund as a reliable and sustainable source of business financing for Corps entrepreneurs, assuring that the bill, currently receiving necessary finishing touches, will soon go before the National Assembly (NASS) for consideration.
General Shuaibu expressed confidence the Fund will not only assist in stimulating and accelerating Nigeria’s economy growth, but also aid in reduce drastically restiveness, violence and other criminal tendencies among the youth populace.
According to the Director-General; “Part of the resolutions of the 2021 meeting is the proposal for the establishment of a dedicated fund that will be backed by law to complement resource allocation from the three tiers of government.
“The fund, which will be called the NYSCTF is expected to strengthen the operations of the Scheme in the same manner the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the Police Equipment Trust Fund and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund aid the operations of tertiary educational institutions, the Nigeria Police as well as the oil and gas industry respectively.
“When operational, the NYSCTF will help address infrastructural and other logistic needs for the smooth conduct of Orientation Courses, provision Corps Lodges, Corps Transit Camps and other essential facilities for the welfare of Corps members.”
He explained that; “In addition, resources from the Fund will support staff training for higher productivity as well as logistic requirements for special aspects of our Community Development Service such as the medical outreaches conducted under the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers.”
Gen Shuaibu, who acknowledged the Fund’s capacity to address NYSC’s existing and emerging challenges said; “In a very significant way, the Fund will also focus on making the SAED programme of the Scheme more functional through adequate provision of training facilities. It will further serve as a reliable and sustainable source of business financing for Corps entrepreneurs that would emerge from the programme.
“The ripple effects of this will be such that the benefitting Corps members will in turn create jobs for millions of other Nigerians through either step-down of vocational training or direct employment of youths of the host communities.
“This will surely help to accelerate the growth of the nation’s economy as well as drastically reduce restiveness, violence and criminal tendencies amongst the youths.”
In appealing for government and stakeholders’ support towards actualizing the Trust Fund, the NYSC boss said; “This will be one of the most valuable gifts of the nation to its youths, in whose enormous potentials the hope of a greater Nigeria rests.
“As managers of the Scheme, we wish to assure the Federal Government and, indeed, the generality of Nigerians that such a laudable initiative will be justified through greater commitment to the success of the NYSC mandate.”
From the National Assembly, Chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports, Yemi Adaramodu, has given assurance that they would provide the needed legislative framework to facilitate the proposed Bill passage.
Adaramodu said in his goodwill message that the lawmakers are ever ready to create an environment for system successes in every sphere of the nation’s life.
In his intervention to promote the proposed Trust Fund bill, the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello said continuous support for the NYSC would assist in driving Nigeria’s economic recovery process.
He said the Scheme could empower youths who are endowed with various talents, adding that the NYSC is one of the most cherished national institutions Nigeria has to foster its unity, integration and national development after the unfortunate civil war.
Represented by Mrs Asabe Umar, the Director of Youth, Social Development Secretariat, the Minister said; “Over the years, however, the realisation of the objectives for establishing the scheme have been hampered by myriad of challenges.
“They include funding, provision of infrastructure and lately start-up capital for corps members trained through the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme.”
Bello applauded the NYSC management team for upping their game in trying to address operational challenges through the proposed NYSC Trust Fund and urged all stakeholders to support of the Scheme’s laudable initiatives.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Sunday Dare, expressed happiness the NYSC has not disappointed in achieving the dreams and aspirations of its founding fathers.
However, while admitting that the Scheme’s numerous achievements did not come without challenges, Dare said; “Over the years, the NYSC has grappled with challenges which hamper its operations.”
According to him; “This made it necessary to fashion ways for sustaining the Scheme to contribute more to the development of the nation. Therefore, the proposal for the establishment of an NYSC Trust Fund is a step in the right direction.”
The Minister, represented by Assistant Director, Youth Rights and Leadership, Mr Despan Kwardam, further said the Trust Fund, when established, “is expected to bridge the financial deficit of the Scheme to empower all Corps members for self-reliance.”
For Dare, this would be productive and gainful with the provision of start-up capitals for Corps members “to set up their businesses on the skills acquired during the service year.”
Among other stakeholders at the occasion was Chairman of NYSC Governing Board, Ambassador Fatima Balla Abubakar.
