The Federal Government has earmarked the sum of
N500 for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as allowance
for daily feeding, Leadership reports.
The revelation followed the protest made by a civil society coalition
known as ‘Say No Campaign’ who dragged the corps before the Uzor
Azubike-led House committee.
Brigadier Olawumi, who responded to the petition by blaming poor
welfare of the corp members, revealed that the Federal Government
approved N500 as feeding allowance for each corp member per day to
improve their welfare.
The NYSC director general further hinted that over N800 million was
needed to start the computer registration system the corps is currently
using for its online registration. He said the fees will service a
private sector driven build, operate and transfer agreement.
Brigadier Olawumi, said the registration equipment will be installed
at NYSC offices nationwide, adding that the process was approved by the
Bureau of Public Procurement with a certificate of no objection.
He pointed out that the N4, 000 online registration fees is
voluntary, explaining that instead of requesting for money to install
the infrastructure, he would prefer to canvass for increment of the
current N19,800 allowance being paid to prospective Corp member.
Speaking also, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu of ‘Say No Campaign’ requested for
the reversal of the proposed N4, 000 online fees and where such payment
has been made, a refund should be made to the corp members.
He also called for a review of the laws establishing the NYSC that
seems to have made the Director General of the Corp an exclusive
preserve of serving military officers.
It would be recalled that on September 30, 2014, federal lawmakers
commenced an inquest into the controversial N4, 000 online registration
fee and consequently urged NYSC to suspend the policy.
In a related development, NYSC member, Abayomi Isaac Oyebukola accused of stealing N2.3m meant for 144 Corpers in Osun state has spoken out.
The Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Johnson Bamidele
Olawumi, made this known on Wednesday, at the House of Representatives
Committee on Public Petition investigative public hearing on the N4, 000
online registration fee imposed on prospective corps members by the
corps.
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