To address the increase in insecurity in some parts of the country, the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has put in place measures to ensure the safety of corps members.
Corps members in states plagued by insecurity interested in redeploying can apply to redeploy, Daily Post quoted an NYSC official as saying.
He disclosed that the NYSC act in the Nigerian constitution states that corps members must be posted to every state, the reason why redeployment is still ongoing in the North.
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However, the NYSC official said corps members posted to states like Kaduna, Borno, Zamfara have been given the opportunity to apply for a transfer out of the state if they demand.
According to him, the scheme which is headed by the military does not joke with the safety of corps members and gets first-hand information on the state of security in every state before orientation camps begin.
He also mentioned that in a case where a local government or state is under attack, NYSC will immediately transfer corps members from that state or LGA.
“NYSC act in the constitution states you must post corps members to every state and it must reflect in every state. We are not insensitive, we are posting because we have to obey the law of the country. Although we cannot go against the constitution, we take into consideration the insecurity situation in every state.
“We have this policy in states like Adamawa, Yobe, Borno and others plagued by insecurity that those interested in redeploying can apply and it will be granted but some Nigerians still apply for relocation to Borno State.
“NYSC is not insensitive like what most people imagine. The scheme is headed by the military and we have the opportunity of having firsthand information about the security situations. Before we start any camp, we look at the security situation. In every camp, we have DSS and security agents working underground. Even the roads to the camps are worked on and monitored.
“Insecurity in Zamfara State is the latest development and NYSC has not decided on that but if you are posted to these states, you can leave. Also the number of corps members posted to these states is way lesser than other states.
“In Kaduna State for example, because of insecurity we shifted the camp to another location and started one week later, also in Plateau State, we did this and have nothing more than 100 corps members. Authorities of NYSC are also parents and we have our staff at these camps and would do anything not to endanger their lives.
“We don’t have the leverage of not posting corps members because of law that governs the scheme but we put in measures to make sure everyone is safe.
The increasing spate of insecurity in some parts of Nigeria especially in the North has instilled fear and raised concerns about the safety of corps members in those states.
Kidnapping by bandits have plagued states like Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau, Zamfara, which has necessitated a call for the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC to be scrapped till security is restored in those states.
Some parents and corps members reached out to DAILY POST lamenting about the situation and posting of corps members to states facing insecurity.