NYSC Warns Corps Members Against Late Arrival To Orientation Camps
BY NGOZI NWANKWO, ABUJA – The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned prospective Corps members (PCMs) against late reporting to their various Orientation Camps.
The warning was contained in a statement by Caroline Embu, Acting Director, Information and Public Relations of the NYSC.
It said that the Scheme’s policy on mobilization and orientation programmes are clearly spelt out in the enabling Act and call-up letters issued to the PCMs.
The statement said; “The attention of NYSC management has been drawn to reports of agitations by some Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) who arrived late to their respective Orientation Camps for the ongoing 2024 Batch “B” Stream 2 Orientation Course, and were consequently not registered.
“For avoidance of doubt the first paragraph of the call-up letter for this Batch of Corps members stated that registration will close by 12 midnight of Thursday 29th August, 2024, while the Swearing -in ceremony for those who successfully completed the registration process would take place simultaneously nationwide on Friday 30th August, 2024.
“As an organisation that prides itself as one with a human face, the above notwithstanding, when the NYSC management got reports of late arrival of some PCMs in some states, the Director-General directed that the deadline for closure of the registration Portal be extended to 12 midnight of Friday 30th August, 2024.
“Surprisingly, even after this grace period, videos of complaints by some prospective Corps members have again surfaced on social media agitating for further extension,” it said.
The statement further explained that following the complaints, the Director-General, Brigadier General Yakubu Danjuma Ahmed promptly visited some camps to assess the situation, during which he sympathised with the affected prospective Corps members.
Embu however said that the Director General stressed the need for adherence to the rules of engagement in accordance with the NYSC Bye-laws, (in which discipline, including adherence to the stipulated dates of resumption to the orientation camp), which he said was key.
Brig-General Ahmed, however, directed that the affected prospective Corps members be availed accommodation and feeding before they left the camps and also assured those who made efforts but could not meet up with the registration schedule for this batch, that they would be given some considerations during the 2024 Batch “C” mobilization.
The statement said that while the management of the NYSC sympathised with the affected prospective Corps members, the Director General of the NYSC however, reminded Nigerians that the Scheme’s operations are based on the provisions of the enabling Act and bye-laws.
