LATE ARRIVAL TO CAMP NEGATES OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES——-NYSC

The management of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has advised prospective corps members (PCM) to adhere to its operational guidelines on early arrival to orientation camps in order to avoid the denial of registration and the subsequent agitation from the affected people.

A statement by the Acting Director of information and public relations Caroline Embu stated that the attention of management of the scheme was drawn to reports of agitations by some Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) who arrived late to their respective Orientation Camps for the ongoing 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream 2 Orientation Course, and were consequently not registered.

She pointed out that the Scheme’s policy on mobilization and orientation programmes is clearly spelt out in the enabling Act and Call-Up Letters issued to the PCMs.

“For avoidance of doubt, the first paragraph of the Call-Up Letters for this Batch of Corps Members stated that registration will close by 12 midnight of Thursday 29th August, 2024, while the Swearing-in Ceremony for those who successfully completed the registration process would take place simultaneously nationwide on Friday 30th August, 2024”

“As an organisation that prides itself as one with human face, the above notwithstanding, when the NYSC Management got reports of late arrival of some PCMs in some States, the Director General directed that the deadline for closure of the registration portal be extended to 12 midnight of Friday 30th August, 2024”

She expressed surprise that even after the grace period, videos of complaints by some PCM have again surfaced on the social media agitating for further extension.

She noted that the Director General promptly visited some camps to assess the situation and sympathized with the affected PCM but reiterated that adherence to the rules of engagement in accordance with the NYSC Bye-laws, (in which discipline, including adherence to the stipulated dates of resumption to the Orientation Camp), was key. Adding that the DG however directed that the affected PCM be availed accommodation and feeding before they left the camps.

She explained that the DG assured those who made efforts but could not meet up with the registration schedule for this batch, that they would be given some considerations during the 2024 Batch ‘C’ mobilization.

She said that while Management sympathises with the affected PCMs, Nigerians should be reminded that the NYSC is a Scheme whose operations are based on the provisions of the enabling Act and Bye-laws.