***Approves N5billion for construction of permanent orientation camp
***Doles out N200,000 to each Corps members
The Niger State Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago on Tuesday rolled out various incentives for Corps members posted to the state for the year’s Batch B, stream one service at the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Paiko, Niger State
The governor who was the special guest of honor at the swearing in of the 1,600 Corps members posted to the state, approved N5billion for the construction of a permanent orientation camp for the National Youths Services Corps (NYSC) in the state.
The state had remained without a permanent orientation camp since its creation with a every successful administration in the state paying a lip-service to its construction.
The NYSC had relied on portions of buildings allocated to it at the government secondary School Paiko as its orientation camp for over 30 years now.
The governor said the permanent orientation camp will be completed in one year, adding that he will personally monitor the project closely to ensure its timely completion.
In the main time, he ordered the immediate repairs of all the toilet facilities at the camp, and directed that five new boreholes be provided at the temporary camp to address water scarcity in the camp.
Bago who described the NYSC as a vehicle for national unity and integration, however announced N200,000 to each of the 1,600 Corp members posted to the state to enable them settle down for the orientation exercise.
In addition to these, he said the Corps members should be given 20 cows and a trailer of rice to enable them enjoy their stay at the orientation camp.
The governor nonetheless urged the Corps members to engage themselves in an entrepreneurship training, especially agriculture during the service year and not to rely on N60,000 minimum wage, stressing that “all these I have given today is through agriculture. Agriculture is very profitable.
“I urged you to acquire a skill today by engaging yourself in an entrepreneurship training.
D don’t go and be waiting for N60,000 minimum wage after the completion of your service. There is money in agriculture”, he added.
Earlier in her address the Minister of youth development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim said the NYSC will partner with the state government in the area of agriculture in other to boost food production and be self sufficient.
She thanked the governor for providing enabling environment for Corp members in the state as she urged the Corps members to be vigilant and avoid unnecessary journeys due to the security challenges in the country.
Also speaking, the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Yushau Garba Ahmed, said the Corps members in the country will soon enjoy a new allowance to enable them cope with the current economic realities, adding that “this will come up after the agreed new minimum wage”.