The Minister of Communications, Dr. Isa Pantami has warned all parastatals under the ministry of communications to desist from the habit of rejecting Corps Members posted on National service.
The Minister, who issued the warning in a press statement signed by Mrs Philomena Oshodin, a Deputy Director, Press Unit at the Federal Ministry of Communications, noted that instead of rejecting the corps members, the parastatals should comply with the provisions of the law regarding the NYSC scheme and train them on entrepreneurship.
“The attention of the Federal Ministry of Communications has been drawn to the recent spate of rejecting Corps Members posted on National service by some Parastatals under its supervision. The Honourable Minister of Communications Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has, therefore, directed that all Departments and Agencies under his purview must comply with the provisions of the law regarding the NYSC scheme,” the statement reads.
The Minister directs that with immediate effect, all Agencies and Parastatals under the supervision of his Ministry must Provide opportunities for an appreciable number of Youth Corps members within their capacities in their regional and Head offices annually, with adequate arrangements for their remuneration.
He also directs that the parastatals give special attention to graduates with ICT – related qualifications; ensure the effective use of their time by posting them to the relevant Departments/Units/Sections of the organization; and plan and execute special ICT Entrepreneurial skills capacity building programmes for serving Corps Members.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria with the objective of inculcating the spirit of selfless service to the community, encourage and develop ties among youths and to emphasize the spirit of oneness and brotherhood in all Nigerians irrespective of cultural or social background. It is in pursuance of this objective that the Federal Government mandated all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to make adequate provision for Youth Corps Members to carry out their mandatory national assignment.
