Sanwo-Olu gifts over N425m to corps members, pledges N5bn for permanent site
…To rewards 100 corps members with automatic employment after service
By Sodiq Adelakun
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced a farewell gift of one hundred thousand Naira (N100,000) for each of the four thousand, two hundred and fifty-four (4,254) for the 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream I corps members.
This pledge was made during his address as the special guest of honour at the NYSC passing-out parade/closing ceremony held at the NYSC orientation camp in Iyana Ipaja on Tuesday.
In his words, he said, “This year alone I will be putting available a total of 5 billion that will be used to start the full development of the permanent site for NYSC.
“For this batch we have 4254 and with all sense of responsibility and because you have been very hardworking, each and everyone of you will go home with a N100,000, the money will be made available into your accounts by next week and your directors will credit your account.”
In addition to the farewell gifts, Governor Sanwo-Olu also announced a N5 billion pledge towards the construction of a permanent site for the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp in the state.
The Governor also promised automatic employment into the civil service for 100 corps members in the batch after their service year.
He admonished the corps members to live by discipline, perseverance, and teamwork during the three-week orientation course.
“Because we are a performance-driven government and we’re sensitive to what is expected of every one of you, I will be monitoring this particular batch. This particular batch is now my home,” he said.
“At the end of your time, I will pick the best 100 corps members out of this batch. They will get automatic employment in the neighbourhood state public service.”
In addition to donating a 32-seater operational bus for camp’s activities, Sanwo-Olu also gave N100,000 cash gift to each of the Corps members passing out from the orientation in the Batch ‘B’ Stream 1.
In a related development, Lagos NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Yetunde Baderinwa, thanked the Governor for the largesse and his commitment to ensure the new permanent site of the scheme is completed, describing Sanwo-Olu’s visit as a “historic moment” that would be remembered in the service.
Baderinwa said the completion of the Agbowa camp would help the State’s NYSC operations return to normal and address logistics shortfall arising from movement of personnel to neighbouring states due to space constraints.
She said the Corps members passing out underwent extensive physical training and mental exercise, including paramilitary drills, martial art, Man O War training, language tests, security lectures and skill acquisition courses among others.
“Through these programmes, the Corps members have acquired some life skills, improved their talents and discovered themselves. As contributors towards the economic stability in Lagos, these Corps members will be deployed to every sector in the State to foster growth and development,” the NYSC coordinator said.
