FCTA urges employers not to reject youth corps members posted to them
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has urged employers in the territory not to reject youth corps member posted to serve in their establishment.
The Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja at the closing ceremony of the 2023 Batch ‘B’ Stream One Orientation Course.
Adesola, who was represented by Mrs Justina Pawa, the acting Chairman, NYSC FCT Governing Board, also urged employers to provide an enabling environment for the NYSC members to perform their statutory responsibilities to their fatherland.
She said, “I urge the organised private sector to open up their doors to accept youth corps members that will be posted to them to undergo the one-year compulsory service.
“It is expected that no company or organisation operating within the shores of Nigeria should flagrantly reject any corps member that is officially posted to them.
“As a mark of patriotism and responsibility to national development, the organised private sector should consider the NYSC scheme as an opportunity to give back to the society as a platform to demonstrate its Corporate Social Responsibility.”
He also urged the youth corps members to contribute their quota to national development by promoting the spirit of oneness, mutual co-existence, national unity and cohesion, peace and harmony.
The Permanent Secretary lauded the NYSC management and critical stakeholders for their invaluable contributions in mentoring members for leadership roles and self-empowerment through the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.
He assured the youth corps members that the FCTA would continue to prioritise their welfare and create a befitting environment for them to operate.
The NYSC FCT Coordinator, Mrs Winifred Shokpeka, also called on employers to ensure judicious use of members posted to them.
Shokpeka said members were posted according to their areas of discipline and specialisation across the six area councils of the FCT, in line with the posting policy of the NYSC.
She advised members to accept their postings in good faith and desist from acts of inducing rejections.
She appealed to them to settle down in their respective places of Primary Assignment and contribute their quota to the development of Nigeria through execution of viable and laudable Community Development Service (CDS) projects.
She said “my dear patriots, as you depart the orientation camp today, I enjoin you to be good ambassadors of the NYSC by shunning acts capable of putting the name of the scheme into disrepute.
“Respect the culture and tradition of your host communities, stay away from partisan politics, be security conscious and always ensure you obtain an official permission before embarking on any journey outside of the FCT.
“As a matter of fact, NYSC has zero tolerance for night travels as this will not only increase the risk of accident, but also make rescue difficult.”
Shokpeka advised members to cut short their trips from six o’clock in the evening and pass the night at NYSC lodges, military barracks and other safe locations whenever they travel out of their stations.
The orientation course which commenced on July 14 had a total number of 3,291 registered youth corps members.
