The Director General of NYSC, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim has called on corps employers to take on some parental roles and responsibilities of the corps members posted to their workplaces.

He made this known at the 2021 Corps Employers Workshop held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ede, Osun State, on Wednesday.

The Director General, who was represented by the Director CDS & Special Projects, Alhaji Abdulrasak Salawu, in his keynote address affirmed the criticality of corps employers to the scheme's smooth running, beseeching them to always see the NYSC as their personal business as well.

In his words, "NYSC's success is no doubt everyone's business. If you're here and have not served before, there is every chance that one of your relative or close acquaintance has or will still serve the fatherland through the scheme".

He appreciated the stakeholders in attendance including the Honorable Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Lawal Azeez Olayemi, the Executive Chairman of Ede South LGA, Hon. Adedeji Agboola, the Director Southwest Area Office, Mrs Akin-Moses Oluwafunmilayo, representatives of heads of federal Parastatals and corps employers for their support, and proceeded to ask for more of this going forward.

He stressed on how instrumental the COVID-19 pandemic was to shining the lights on the outstanding skillsets and innovative mindset prevalent among corps members and NYSC officials.

"At a time of widespread national paralysis of sectors and services, the NYSC remained astonishingly visible with the initiation of needed projects such as nose mask production and donation, e-learning packages for students in the comfort of their home, fabrication of leg-operated water dispensers, and more, " he said.

The Director General drew the attention of the workshop participants to noted problems militating against the smooth achievement of the scheme's objectives, such as increasing rate of corps members induced PPA rejection, aiding and abetting by unscrupulous employers, delay in issuing monthly clearance and several others.

He brought them up to speed with what was required of them as employers of NYSC corps members, from the provision of reasonable welfare packages to conveyance of corps members from camp to PPA or money in lieu, provision of suitable accommodation or money in lieu, as well as payment of other relevant allowances. All these, he said, would motivate the corps members the more to remain dedicated and excellently execute their responsibilities.

Shuaibu urged the gathering to desist from a few bad practices noted to have become prevalent amongst corps employers, including aiding and abetting unserious corps members, approving inter-state travel and work leaves without the authorisation of the NYSC management, refusal to issue monthly clearance to deserving corps members, and more. He warned that the NYSC would not hesitate in taking legal actions against erring corps employers.

While concluding the address, the Director General itemised a few other significant phases of the youth service such as the CDS, Passing-Out Ceremony, and SAED post-camp training, soliciting the employers' help in achieving the success of the aforementioned.

Earlier, the Osun State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, who doubles as the Chairman of the NYSC Osun State Governing Board, Hon. Lawal Azeez Olayemi, delivered a goodwill message on behalf of the Osun State Government. He appreciated the corps employers for their continued support while emphasising that workshops such as this helps to ensure co-operation amongst stakeholders.

Also, the Chairman, Ede South LGA, Hon. Adedeji Agboola while delivering his welcome address, expressed his appreciation to the Scheme for deeming it fit to organise such a workshop at a time like this. He said the workshop will indeed recalibrate the mindsets of employers to corps members and bring about an improvement in the relationship between the Corps members and corps members in their organisations.

Agboola called on the participants to leveerage on the knowledge from the workshop to improve on welfare and service delivery at their end. He urged the corps employers to treat the corps members as their children.

Meanwhile, the Director NYSC South West Area Office, Mrs. Akin-Moses Oluwafunmilayo profoundly appreciated the corps employers for their unwavering support. She emphasized the significance of the workshop as a platform for interaction by stakeholders and an avenue for the evolution of well-rounded policies.

While urging the participants to be on the lookout for the next phase of the employers' workshop which will take place at the zonal level, Akin Moses implored them to make NYSC aware of their problems as well profer credible solutions to such highlighted problems.

After a short interlude that featured a dance presentation by the cultural troupe, deliberations commenced with the first business session that saw Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu recapping on the DG's keynote address as well several contributions from corps employers.

Paper 1 presentation, made by the Vice Chancellor of Redeemer's University, Ede, Prof. Anthony Enisan Akinlo, represented by Mr. Ademola Ipenko, was themed "Role of Stakeholders in Challenges of Corps Administration, Rejection, Under-Utilisation and Evasion of Service".

The presenter started by enumerating the tripartite challenges of corps members rejection, under-utilization, and evasion of service, as the most significant challenges facing the scheme.

According to him, "the NYSC is over-burdened by several internal and external issues, so I think there's little it can do to solve these 3 fundamental problems. What's needed is the bringing together of other stakeholders to lend support in ensuring continued success of the scheme as well as taming these challenges facing it".

He commended the NYSC for the technological innovations it has adopted in its processes which has helped facilitate more efficiency and thus made the scheme a perfect role model for other government parastatals and agencies looking to optimize its operations for the 21st century.

In his recommendations, Mr Ademola urged present stakeholders to "go back to town and spread the news of renewed hope about the scheme to others."

He called on the workshop participants to see the scheme as our collective heritage and develop a renewed sense of ownership about the scheme.
"Whatever you do to corps members in your care finds its way back to you. Your children will undertake service under another employer and you can be sure that they will get a dose of what you have been dealing your corps members, " he said.

Mr Ademola urged the scheme to revive the corps members Inspection unit to tame the issue of evasion of service, while charging employers to effectively utilise the manpower assigned by NYSC to their various workplaces and establishments.

In his closing, he declared that "NYSC is the best thing that has happened to this nation because of the unity and integration that it is fostering amongst the youths."

"Most of NYSC's problems and challenges are fuelled by factors outside the scheme, which is why it is important that we all rise up to nip national challenges in the bud," he said.

Paper 2 themed "The Role of an Ideal Corps Employer as Catalyst for Effective Service Delivery" was presented by Dr. Mrs. Abosede Olatokun, Director of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Osun State.

She began by asserting the need for patience and empathy in building good work ethics in corps members who are typically approaching the peak of their maturity and discovering new things about themselves, fields, and life generally.

Dr. Mrs. Abosede urged the corps employers to be reasonable and civil as they assign tasks to these youths and bring them up-to-date about the workings of their industry.

"Most of these corps members are pure neophytes who have only been familiar all their lives with the theoretical aspects of their fields. It lies on you to tactically make them familiar with the practicalities and give them ample room to demonstrate all that is learnt," she added.

The veterinary expert coaxed the participants to practice what they preach to serve as credible role models for corps members who would in future take over the mantle of industry leadership from present stakeholders.

"You need to build-up the confidence of these young people so they can mature and deliver effective service capable of making our country great, " she said.

The Director General, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim in his closing remarks, urged the employers to build credible relationships with the corps members while taking cognizance of possible differences in cultural and religious upbringing. He solicited the workshop participants' help in passing these messages to other employers not in attendance.

Finally, the NYSC Osun State Coordinator, Mrs. Winifred Shokpeka, in her vote of thanks appreciated the Director General and participants for their support toward the achievement of the Scheme's objectives in the State. She assured all of the corps members readiness to deliver on the mandate of the Scheme in their places of primary assignment reiterating how they have been imbibing her mantra of 'taking responsibility for their lives'.

She outlined the projects undertaken by members of the 2021 Batch C Stream 1 in the state during the orientation course, expressing confidence that these first crop of corps members that she superintended their orientation course in her position as a newly-appointed state coordinator, would leave wonderful marks in the sand of time.

"Love them when difficult, discipline where necessary, and inspire when you have to, " she concluded.

The workshop featured discussions and deliberations on the various papers presented and the reading of the resolutions reached at the end. The workshop was themed" Optimising the NYSC /Corps Employers Partnership for National Development in the Context of the New Normal".

" Loco parentis"...bandits no dat one?
Make everybody serve for him state.and save ur sef dis ur english.because the only "loco" wey i know.na sam loco.