Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the 2024 Batch A, Stream 1 orientation camps nationwide are grappling with the escalating cost of living, particularly in Mammy Markets, where soaring food prices prompt widespread complaints.
Mammy Markets are strategically located in each NYSC orientation camp to cater to individuals who prefer to avoid the long lines for camp-provided meals.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that despite some corps members expressing dissatisfaction with the quality and quantity of meals in the camps, financial constraints prevent many from supplementing their meals by purchasing from Mammy Markets.
A corps member, self-identified as Jefferson at the Bauchi NYSC Camp, disclosed on TikTok that the excessively high prices in Mammy Markets have compelled almost all corps members to line up for camp-provided meals.
He stated, “Everyone wants camp food due to the unaffordable prices in the Mammy Market. Those who brought thousands to the camp have exhausted their funds within two days. Now, food is scarce for all corps members. We are even fighting to be in the queue and receive very little food.”
In the Southern region, a different corps member noted that the camp coordinator cautioned against depending solely on camp food, emphasizing that it is not intended to meet the needs of everyone.
She said, “Our camp coordinator even told us to consider camp exit because the camp cannot feed everyone.”
Moreover, an anonymous corps member in Lagos mentioned, “The camp meals are not sufficient enough for adults like us, but we all understand the situation of things in the country generally. The contractors who were given the job to buy food items would been mobilised before now and the inflationary trends have caught up with that.
“The government would have decided on what to allocate for feeding corps members before now and things have taken a new turn. If we have enough support from our parents and guardians, in terms of stipends, one would be able to buy from the Mammy Market to support what is served, but where is the money now? People are really hungry,” he said.
NYSC has refuted allegations of elevated food prices in orientation camps, dismissing them as baseless and deceptive fabrications.
NYSC’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa,described the accusations as “laughable, absurd, and unfortunate” in a released statement.
Megwa criticized the circulating narrative implying that a state coordinator endorsed corps members leaving the orientation camp due to food shortages.
“The story is nothing but a tissue of lies, intended to cause mischief,” stated Megwa.
The NYSC management asserted the groundlessness of such a claim, highlighting the extensive experience and seniority of the state coordinators involved, many of whom have served for over 25 years.
Megwa detailed the operational structure of the orientation camps, underscoring the presence of checks and balances to ensure a seamless and well-regulated flow of activities, including the provision of meals to corps members.
“A Resident Officer from the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters is always present to oversee the adherence to policies and rules,” he explained.
The Director-General of NYSC, Brig Gen Yushau Dogara Ahmed, was noted for actively participating, personally visiting camps each season to address the welfare of corps members.
Megwa also addressed the oversight of camp markets, recognizing that although protected from exploitative practices, they are not exempt from the broader global economic challenges.
He adopted a firm stance against those responsible for disseminating the false claims, accusing them of attempting to gain profit at the nation’s peace of mind’s expense.
“Their actions inflict incalculable damage to our dear country and the psyche of our people,” he said.
The Director of NYSC appealed to those spreading false information to stop their detrimental actions and emphasized the scheme’s commitment to an open-door policy, always ready to offer clarifications on its operations.
