An Overview Of The NYSC Service Year

Here is an insight into the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. You would do well to read it and suggest it to a friend… Let’s begin.

PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT

This is the corps member’s major task after the orientation course for the rest of the service year. Corps members are therefore advised to be loyal to employers and be dedicated to their duties.

At the close of the orientation course, corps members are posted to places of primary assignments (P.P.As) relevant to their discipline. A corps member is bound by the rules and regulations of his/her place of primary assignment. He/she is bound by all NYSC rules and regulations as contained in the NYSC Handbook and the NYSC Bye-laws.

MODE OF PAYMENT OF MONTHLY ALLOWANCE

Corps members are expected to collect a clearance letter from their employers every month end. This is the passport to signing the monthly payment voucher clearance.

It is very important that corps members sign their valid and regular signature right from the registration centre on camp till the end of their service year. Irregular signature on payment vouchers will result in non-payment of allowance, also any corps member who fails to submit his/her clearance letter within the stipulated time of the month will not be paid.

FINANCIAL ENTITLEMENTS

a)      Monthly Allowance                         -              N19,800

b)      Local Transport Allowance           -              N1,000 (to be paid during the orientation course)

c)       Transport from home                    -              N1,500 (to be paid during the orientation course)

d)      Transport back home                     -              N1,500 (to be paid after the service year)

       

CORPS WELFARE

(i)                  All employers are expected to provide accommodation (at least a room to a corps member with bed, mattress, pillow, table and chair and one cushion chair). However, when an employer is unable to provide the above and the corps member consents to getting accommodation himself, a reasonable allowance (taking cognizance of the prevailing cost of accommodation) should be paid to the corps member in lieu of accommodation.

(ii)                For transportation, a minimum sum of N1,000 should be paid to each corps member monthly.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

(i)                  Except in the case of the 21 days leave granted as terminal benefit on completion of service, leave of absence is a privilege granted at the discretion of the State Coordinator in accordance with the NYSC Bye-laws.

(ii)                Leave of absence shall begin on the day specified in the letter approving such leave and a corps member is required to report at his/her post on the day the leave expires.

(iii)               A corps member who desires to get married during the service year will be allowed 14 days in writing by the State Coordinator.

NOTE: No corps member is allowed to travel to the state secretariat to solve any problem except he/she is invited in writing. It is the responsibility of the NYSC Local Government Officer to get various problems of the corps members in his/her local government area solved.

TRAVELLING OUT OF STATION

Any corps member who wants to travel out of the state must apply to the State Coordinator through the NYSC Local Government Officer and obtain an approval in writing before proceeding on the journey. No employer has the authority to permit any corps member to travel out of the state.

WINDING-UP ACTIVITIES

During the last week of the service year, corps members are again brought together for the winding up exercise and passing out programme. The winding up activities consist of parade rehearsals, discussion and evaluation of the service year.

CONDUCT OF NYSC MEMBERS

In order to ensure a positive public image for the NYSC scheme, every corps member is enjoined to be a good ambassador in all aspect of his/her life throughout the service year. A single action of one corps member could tarnish the image of the scheme. It therefore becomes imperative that you do those things that will promote the good image of the scheme.

 PRESS INTERVIEW

Corps members are not under any circumstances allowed to grant interviews to the media on any issue affecting them during their service without the express permission of the State Coordinator.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICE (CDS)

Every corps member is mandated to join at least one of the numerous CDS groups. These groups include: Editorial Board, NYSC Federal Road Safety Club, WOTCLEF, Legal Aid, Sports, EFCC, Red Cross, General, etc.


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Dada, Victor D.
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