Don’t treat corps members as cheap labour –  NYSC

ONITSHA, Anambra – Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps NYSC, Anambra State  Mrs. Yetunde Baberinwa has advised  employers in the state  not to treat corps members as cheap labour.

The State coordinator made the call on Wednesday during the corps employers workshop titled ” Optimising the NYSC /Corps Members Partnership for National Development in the Contest of the New Normal ” held in Awka South local government of the state.

According to her, the scheme  frowns at the under-utilisaton and unfair treatment of corps  members by their various employers and that the development is not acceptable  .

She said that corps members are not to be paid on commission but on  an agreed monthly allowance not less than N10,000 to motivate them and argument the Federal Government allowance. She warned employers of corps members against authorising their  travel permits without approval from the scheme.

According to her, travel permit is to be recommended on corps members request  to NYSC through their local government Inspectors.

Speaking to Journalists  on the side line of the programs , the Principal of Willie Obiano secondary Enugu  -Aguleri Anambra East local government Mr.Amaobi Joseph said the corps members are sometimes difficult to manage .

 According to him, some of them travel out of the state without permission and knowledge of the school management.

“Some of the corps members are truant , they sneak out and come in at their will. It is difficult to control them  because some of them are living outside the school premises .When you try to punish them , it appears you are wicked , but we continue talking to them about the danger of their action ” he said. He also decried the dressing mode of some corps members , which according to him is indecent and poor.

“Some of them will come in half naked and when  we tell them to go and change ,some will see it as punishment , thank God most later appreciate ” he said.

He however called on the government to provide the necessary things to effectively and meaningful engage the corps members. He said that in his school , there are  no furniture and stationary for the corps members to work.

” We cannot send them back when deployed to us. Government should provide  chairs and stationery for them to work ” he said .