The Director-General, National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, has urged corps members country to be apolitical in their engagements during the 2019 general elections.
He made the call on Saturday at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Afikpo, Ebonyi, while addressing the 2019 Batch “C” Steam 1 corps members currently undergoing orientation programme.
Kazaure, who was represented by Acting Director of Corps Certification, Mrs Linda Amaugo, reminded the corps members that they were not politicians but nation-builders.
“We have an agreement with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be involved in organising free, fair and credible general elections in 2019.
“We have been involved in conducting credible elections in the past which have contributed in sustaining the country’s democratic dispensation.
“You don’t belong to any political party in the country and should therefore, avoid acts that will truncate the electoral process in 2019,” he said.
The NYSC boss advised the corps members to respect the culture and traditions of the communities they would be posted for their primary assignments for a peaceful and secured stay.
“You should not criticize or condemn the peoples’ culture and tradition or compare them with such that is obtained in your own communities.
“You should instead identify their felt needs and contribute in solving or providing them to leave lasting legacies on your departure,” he said.
He also warned them against unnecessary journeys which had resulted in unfortunate loss of lives of corps members across the country.
“The NYSC has a corps welfare inspectorate and in their records, road accidents constitute the major causes of corps members’ death with a minute percentage attributed to natural causes.
“You should, therefore, avoid travels without cogent reasons and without authorisation from relevant authorities because of the grave dangers associated with road travels,” he said.
Kazaure commended them for being disciplined in the camp and urged them to avail themselves of the skills acquisition opportunities to be self-reliant on completion their service year.
Director of NYSC in the state, Mrs Ann Ibe, said that at the conclusion of the orientation programme’s registration, 2,054 corps members were registered.
“They comprise 1,021 males and 1,033 females, with 115 of the females either pregnant or nursing babies, prompting their leaving the camp.
“Fifty-eight corps members with health issues were released to leave the camp on instant relocation while eight cases of biometric failures were recorded during the registration process.
“This has been reported to the Information Communication Technology (ICT) department at the national headquarters,” she said.
She noted that the corps members had been disciplined while in camp in spite of challenges which included the siting of School for the Deaf within the camp premises.
“We are grateful to the state government for fulfilling its pledge of renovating facilities within the camp which have assisted in the conducive habitation of the corps in the camp,” she said.
