Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has called on the Federal Government to review and increase the National Youth Service Corps members’ monthly allowance from the current N19,500 to N50,000.
The governor said the current allowance was no longer feasible to sustain corps members with the current economic situation in the country.
Fayose, who decried the deplorable condition of the Ekiti NYSC orientation camp in Ise/Emure promised immediate release of N20m for the renovation of the camp.
In a press statement given by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, Fayose challenged the federal government to live up to its responsibility by coming out to tackle headlong, the challenges confronting NYSC, noting that the corps members’ welfare should be a priority.
While addressing the corps members at the orientation camp during a tour of the camp to ascertain the state of facilities there, he promised immediate release of an official vehicle to the State Coordinator.
The governor also promised constant support for the scheme and encouraged the corps members to be determined to break the jinx of poverty by being diligent, citing himself as evidence of hope for the poor.
Fayose who made a surprise visit at the camp kitchen where members of Platoon 9 were preparing dinner for corps members, took a meal of eba and sat down there in the kitchen to eat it to the wonderment of the corps members.
Earlier, the NYSC State Director, Mrs Eze Ukagha, commended the efforts of the governor towards the citing of the camp, provision of borehole facility, generating set, vehicle and other facilities during his first term in office.
She solicited the assistance of the governor towards the renovation of the camp and provision of some facilities, appreciating him for a release of N650,000 and N250,000 for the repair of damaged roofs and medical bill of some corps members, respectively.
The Coordinator promised the commitment of the 2,116 Batch ‘B’, stream 2 corps members to the development of the state, describing them as very disciplined and dedicated set of corps members.