Incessant Attacks By Student Cultists Force NYSC To Withraw Corps Members Fom Osun Schools

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has withdrawn some corps members serving in a secondary school in Osogbo, Osun state following attack on the corps by some suspected student cultists.

Osun State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr. Emmanuel Attah made this known on Wednesday during the 2018 NYSC/corps employers’ workshop in Osogbo.

According to Attah, the affected schools could not end the incessant attacks on corps members, hence the decision to withdraw them from the schools.

He said the schools had been blacklisted.

Attach said, “Those who employ corps members are expected to provide accommodation, welfare and ensure their security but when corps members are exposed to danger or insecurity, the NYSC will withdraw them.”

He said in 2017, corps members serving in Osogbo High School, Osogbo were continuously attacked by students suspected to be cultists, and the school was unable to guarantee and provide for their safety.

He said when the principal of the school could not assure the NYSC that the attacks on the corps members would stop and those suspected attackers would be apprehended, the school was blacklisted and deployment of corps members stopped.

He therefore called on stakeholders and corps employers who were at the workshop to always ensure that they provide corps members in their employment with accommodation, good welfare packages as well as ensure their safety.

“From time immemorial corps employers by extant laws have the responsibility of providing transportation from the orientation camp for members posted to them.

“The employers are to also provide a convenient accommodation or money in lieu, considering the fact that most of these members are in unfamiliar terrain.

“It is also necessary, in addition to providing accommodation, that corps employers provide other basic welfare packages and ensure the safety of the corps members posted to them: as this will go a long way in motivating them to put in their best. ” he said

The Director General of the NYSC, Brig-Gen, Sulaiman Kazaure, represented by Mr Sadiq Ipaku, in his own remarks said the workshop, which is holding across the federation, was to appreciate the enduring partnership between the scheme and corps employers.

Kazaure said the workshop was also to identify challenges in corps administration and proffer solutions.

He said rejection, under-utilisation, inadequate welfare provision of accommodation and transport for corps member are the major challenges corps member are facing from employers.

He however said, according to a circular from the Federal Government with Ref: No: SGF. 15/T/90, Dated 13/11/2008, all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are directed not to reject corps members posted to them.