The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General YD Ahmed has said the Scheme would continue to work towards a seamless mobilization process as it continues to adapt to the latest trends in the information technology world.
He also advised the Corps Producing Institutions in the country to ensure data integrity while mobilizing their graduates for national service.
Brigadier General Ahmed disclosed this in his keynote address at the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 Batch ‘C’ Pre-Mobilization Workshop, with the theme; “Enhancing Data Integrity for Seamless Mobilization Process”.
He said all hands must be on deck in order to ensure an error-free mobilization process. He equally urged the participants to use the opportunity of the workshop for the appraisal of their respective roles in the NYSC Mobilization process.
“I wish to, therefore, warn that we shall begin to invoke the penalty of withholding new Exemption Certificates for graduates of any institution that fails to return unclaimed ones”, the DG added.
NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, in a statement, said General Ahmed also appealed for the cooperation of Corps Producing Institutions on the sensitization of Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) against traveling at night when reporting to their States of Deployment.
He said this has become necessary in view of recent incidents of kidnap and road accidents involving PCMs, all of which occurred due to night journeys.
“In view of the attendant dangers, CPIs should sensitize their graduates against night journeys, when reporting to the NYSC Orientation Camps.
They should be strongly advised to break long journeys and pass the night at Corps Lodges or other safe places, and proceed on their journeys in the morning.
It is, therefore, incumbent on every one of us to always contribute towards discouraging our young graduates from putting themselves in harm’s way. On our part, the NYSC Management will continue to accord priority to the security and general welfare of Corps Members”, he added.
The NYSC Chief Executive also stressed the importance of the sensitization of final-year students on NYSC matters, adding that feedback being received shows that some institutions fail to fully mobilize their students to attend the sensitization programme.
The DG said the Scheme would soon compile the names of schools that are not willing to open their gates for NYSC officials to disseminate information to their final-year students for appropriate sanctions.
The Director, Corps Mobilization Department, Hajiya Walida Siddique Isa said the Scheme has introduced innovations and also enhanced the level of collaboration with all stakeholders in the mobilization process.