The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on Friday, described the news reports on social and mainstream media stating that “the military pushed for the establishment of the NYSC Trust Fund, as a cash cow for retired officers”, as fake news and misleading.
The NYSC denied the report in a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa.
Megwa in his statement on Friday said the news item: “How Nigeria Military Officers Secretly Push For Establishment of NYSC Trust Fund To Steal As Their Retirement Package”, was misleading and tissue of lies meant to misinform the public.
He called on the public to ignore the reports for their lack of authenticity, clarification, and substance.
The statement further stated that the decision to establish NYSC Trust Fund was borne out of a meeting held with some of the stakeholders, which includes the thirty-six state governments and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
He added that the scheme was strongly supported by civil societies, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) as well as Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
“The attention of NYSC Management has been drawn to a story with the above caption, making the rounds on social media.
“The decision to establish NYSC Trust Fund was conceived during a meeting held with some of the Scheme’s stakeholders; notably: the thirty-six State Governments and FCT Administration; and thereafter strongly supported by civil societies, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) as well as Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
“Primarily, the Fund is purposed to address the infrastructural deficit besetting the Scheme in the area of camp renovation and maintenance; upgrading, building, and maintenance of Corps Members’ Lodges, among others.
“Statutorily, the Scheme as it were, has a tripartite funding arrangement – the Federal, State and Local Governments, with each having varying degree of responsibilities.
“Over the years, the Scheme has equally partnered governmental and non-governmental institutions in the area of providing start-up capitals to Corps Members to fund their business initiatives under the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme which is a direct answer to the often asked rhetorical question: After the NYSC what next?
“The Trust Fund will provide funds to a greater percentage of Corps Members trained under the NYSC Skill Acquisition programme to start up their businesses.
“It is appropriate to clarify that the Fund which passed public hearing, with civil societies, the academia, among others, fully represented is not a pool of slush fund meant to gratify the financial cravings of top military officers as erroneously stated by the writer of the story.
“While Management holds the media in high esteem as a worthy partner, it wishes to restate the need for writers to clarify issues pertaining to the Scheme with the managers before rushing to publish, in order to guard against misleading the public,” the statement reads.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/nysc-trust-fund-is-not-retired-military-officers-cashcow-management/
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