NYSC bans unauthorized journeys by corps members

 The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC), Brig-Gen. Zakari Kazaure has said that it is now an offence for any serving corp member to travel out of camp or places of primary assignment without obtaining permission.

Kazaure stated this at the Ekiti State Permanent Orientation Camp, situated in Ise/Emure, in Ise/Orun local government area of Ekiti state during a shuttle visit to educate corp members on dangerrs inherent from playing with their health and security.

According to him, the standing rule of the agency was being repeatedly ignored in a manner that suggested that authorities had abdicated their roles of  looking after the wellbeing as well as the welfare of the corp members.

He said, " You all have to avoid night journeys and other unnecessary journeys for that matter. Remember that before you embark on any journey, the need arises that you first inform your immediate supervisors and obtain necessary permits

"  A graduate is expected by the society to be above board. I therefore want you to please join hands with me to ensure that the tragic incident in Taraba is the very last of such", he said.

Kazaure who arrived the Ekiti state camp at about 4:45pm on Tuesday expresssed deep regrets over the tragic death of nine corp members in Taraba state during the weekend, describing it as huge loss to him personally, and the nation in general.

The DG who himself claimed to have undergone the NYSC mandatory programme, over 30-years ago, with graduates as children said the sad incident was highly regetted, even as he called for a minute silence to honour those who lost their lives.

According to him, there was also the need for them to respect the culture and tradition of their host communities.

He advised a section of Nigerians accusing the NYSC of negligence to know that the standing rules banning the youth corp members from unauthorised journeys are more implementable when they are on orientation camp, than when serving in places of primary assignment where they are treated as independent adults.

Gen. Kazaure said any corp member in the country was free to call his personal number o

He warned them, particularly the female ones to avoid dressing irresponsibly and also keep away from sharp practices such as engaging in intrrnet fraud among others.

Earlier the new State Director of NYSC, Mrs. Aniefiok Okpongete had told the DG that a total of 1,809 corps members were currently registered in the state.

She said out of the figure, 1,109 are males while the rest are females.

However, she said a total of 187, among them, 149 females and 38 males had been advised to leave camp on account of being either pregnant, nursing mothers or facing critical health challenges.