The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has warned that any employer that rejects National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, members from the place of primary assignment will face legal consequences.
Bago said there is a law in place to ensure that no corps member is rejected from their place of primary assignment, saying that the state government was set to enforce the law against any defaulting employer of labour.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Batch B Stream 1 orientation course at the NYSC Orientation camp in the Paikoro area of the state, the governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, assured the corps members of their security in their places of primary assignment.
Usman said that mechanisms were in place to ensure that all welfare services due to the corps members were provided.
“I call on all employers of corps members to treat our corpers justly and fairly; you should accept corps members posted to you, protect them and make the necessary provisions for their welfare. We will enforce the law and enable it to take its course against any employer who refuses to accept or provide the necessary incentives to any corps member sent to them,” he said.
He noted that the NYSC through the deployment of corps members to all parts of the country had continued to make positive impacts in the areas of healthcare, rural development, infrastructure, education and agricultural value chain of the state economy adding that the corps members are contributing to the economic development of the state.
The governor urged the corps members to shun drug abuse, trafficking, cybercrime and misuse of social media, stressing the need for them to be law abiding and serve as role models to the communities they would be posted to.
“You must avoid the temptation to indulge in drug abuse, trafficking, cybercrime among others. Also, remember that being a corps member does not confer on you immunity from the legal consequences of any wrongdoing. I therefore, enjoin you to continue to be law-abiding while also serving as role models for the younger ones in the communities you may be posted to.
“In the age of easy access to social media, I need you to avoid wrong use of the social media for ethnic prejudices, rumour peddling and hate-speech. Ensure that your online activities are targeted at self-improvement as well as promotion of the unity, peace and prosperity of our dear country. You must also be wary of negative acts that are capable of portraying the scheme in bad light”, he said.
The Niger State NYSC Coordinator, Abdulwahab Olayinka Alidat, also enjoined the corps members to discharge their duties with diligence cautioning them against meddling in the local politics of their host communities.
She also urged them to avoid using social media platforms for ethnic jingoism, rumour peddling and the promotion of hatred, stressing that their activities online should be targeted at self-improvement and the promotion of the unity, peace and development of the country.
Alidat said that the corps members should avoid staying out late and attending night parties as part of security measures to be taken to protect themselves.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
