Senate may pass 2022 budget Dec 14, deplores feeding allowance of corps members

NYSC warns prospective intakes against fake COVID-19 papers

Barring hitches, the Senate is to pass the 2022 budget on December 14. Its President, Ahmad Lawan, dropped the hint at plenary, yesterday, in Abuja. He said the budget defence sessions with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are ending today.

Lawan observed that some committees had not defended their estimates with the Senator Barau Jibrin-led Committee on Appropriation.

Expressing optimism that the development would not affect the December 14 target, he urged the appropriation committee to be accessible to other panels, of the upper legislative chamber yet to defend their budget reports.

The Senate President assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would speedily resolve any likely hitch that might interfere with the quick passage of the budget next month.

IN another vein, the Senate Committee on Sports and Youth Development has decried the N600 daily feeding allowance for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The chairman, Senator Obinna Ogba, who made the condemnation while defending the 2022 budget of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development before the Red Chamber’s appropriation committee, wondered why corps members, on national duty, are subjected to such a paltry sum that is below the N1000 daily meal ticket for criminals serving various jail terms across the federation. He also deplored the N12,000 allocation for procurement of uniforms for corps members during their service year.

The Ebonyi State-born lawmaker argued that the situation would not bring out the best in the corps members expected to discharge their duties patriotically. Ogba, who frowned on the straight jacket budgeting system, canvassed increase budgetary votes for the ministry. He, particularly, sought special funding to assist the ministry in harnessing the talents of the nation’s teeming youths.

BESIDES, the NYSC high command has warned incoming members of the 2021 Batch ‘C’ Stream 2 Orientation Course against hitting camp with fake COVID-19 papers.

The Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, gave the warning yesterday during a webinar hosted by the corps and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) ahead of the mobilisation. He said any errant member would be handed over to law enforcement agents for prosecution.

The NYSC boss said adequate measures had been put in all orientation camps nationwide. “Ensure that you are a good and law-abiding citizen. If you violate COVID-19 safety guidelines, we have COVID-19 vanguard in camp, and you will be decamped,” Ibrahim warned.

His NCDC counterpart, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, while stressing adherence to extant safety measures, urged Nigerians to take responsibility. He said: “Take personal responsibility and act collectively to ensure your safety and others.
Make use of every opportunity in and out of camp to get the vaccine.

“Wear your facemasks in camp, avoid large gatherings, maintain social distance between you and the next person.”
The NCDC Project Lead on Safe Camp Reopening, Dr. Ladun Okunromade, said all hands must be on deck to ensure that orientation camps fulfil the key performance indicators.

She commended the NYSC management for compliance with existing safety protocols, pledging NCDC’s continued support for the scheme.