Alia promises security 2,200 NYSC members deployed to Benue

Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue has assured 2,200 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed to the state for the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream II orientation course of adequate security.

Alia gave the assurance on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony of the new corps held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Wanune in the Tarka Local Government Area.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Terkimbi Ikyange, regretted that the country was currently bedevilled with some security challenges, and Benue was not left out.

“However, let me quickly allay your fears and assure you that as a government, we are poised to ensure that your security is guaranteed all through your stay in the state.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our administration in conjunction with all security agencies in the state has put in place giant proactive measures to ensure the safety of all places and residential areas of Corps members.

“You will also discover soon enough that people from various ethnic groups still live harmoniously in the state,” Alia explained.

He congratulated the corps members for being among the lucky ones posted to Benue.

Alia emphasised the importance of the corps members following in the laudable footsteps of the founding fathers of the scheme by contributing their quota to national development.

According to him, their service that you will be called to render, through the instrumentality of your various postings, will help plug the skilled manpower gaps across the state.

He noted, however, that finding themselves in a strange land would create all sorts of doubt and fear but assured them that being in Benue is just home away from home.

Earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Veronica Garba, commended the governor for his constant support for the scheme, which has improved corps members performances in their various places of primary assignments.

Garba disclosed that the governor had approved the payment of a monthly state allowance of N15,000 for corps members serving in Benue and also N100,000 for corps doctors.

“I wish to use this opportunity to thank his Excellency for the love and unflinching support the scheme has continued to enjoy under your administration.

“It is gratifying to inform you that the payment of the monthly state allowance of N15,000.00 and N100,000.00 to corps doctors has cushioned the effect of hardship on corps members serving in the state and improved their performance, as evident in their various places of primary assignments.

“Again, I thank his excellency for coming to our rescue on the challenge of erosion in the camp by awarding a contract for the construction of drainages and a good road network within the camp environment,” Garba said.

The coordinator informed the corps members that the orientation programme was generally packaged to enrich them with new techniques in the approach of different spheres of life.

She stated that highly rich trainings and lectures had been put together for their benefit, enjoining them to make the best out of the golden opportunity provided by the Federal Government by taking every aspect of the NYSC training programme seriously.

“The Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) you will soon be introduced to is one of the highly beneficial programmes put together by NYSC to eradicate joblessness.

“Considering the unending scarcity of white-collar jobs in Nigeria, I urge you to embrace the programme with all seriousness and commitment with a view to becoming self-employed and employers of labour.

“This will in no small measure enhance your chances of excelling during and after the service year,” she advised.

She also encouraged them to ensure healthy interactions irrespective of ethnicity, religion, and social backgrounds in order to foster unity and integration, which is one of the core reasons for the establishment of the NYSC scheme.