Press Releases

Fashola Calls For Adequate Funding For NYSC
• “We need an army of Nigerians striving to be self–dependent”, he says

Aug 13, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Thursday called for adequate funding of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme if it must fulfill its objective of cementing the unity of the country for which it is created.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja, when he played host to the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Maharaz Tsiga, who paid him a courtesy visit, said for the scheme to function adequately, there is need to pay more attention to it in terms of funding.

He declared, “This is a national programme. Therefore, we must look more realistically at the scheme. Are we funding it properly? Are we paying enough attention to it as a national project; something that has been initiated to breed and cement unity in our country?”.

The Governor, who promised that the Lagos State Government will continue to respond, the best way it can, to the needs of the Corps members posted to the State, however, queried, “If we are supposed to assist, where does assistance end and where does assumption of full responsibility begin?”

Noting that the states can best assist in cushioning the challenges of the scheme, the Governor said, “It is a good scheme, but whose responsibility is the scheme?, adding, “Let us work together to build up the scheme”.

“As we build the nation, you know too well that the sustainability of the nation depends on the investment we make in the young people”, the Governor said, pointing out that time is of essence to produce a new generation of leaders who will sustain the growth of the country.

The Governor advised that as more universities are being registered, there is need for the Federal Government to acquire large parcels of land in zonal catchment areas across the country for the construction of camps for each zone according to the bulk of corps members that could be sent to such zones.

“We do not have much land here. We have the smallest land area in size, but we get the heaviest responsibility. But because the scheme is dear to us, we continue to give support for its success”, the Governor said adding that this is also a momentous opportunity to look at what can be done to assist the young graduates who, according to him, “are about to step out into life”.

Advising that the corps members be given the opportunity to learn new skills while in service, Governor Fashola queried, “With a degree in an economy which is not full of jobs, what entrepreneurial skills can we give them during that short orientation period”, adding, “We need now an army of not just young graduates looking for work. We also need an army of Nigerians who are trying to be self-dependent”.

He disclosed that he has directed the State’s Commissioner for Agriculture, based on letters he received from some corps members posted to the State, to allocate land to the corps to start their own farms within the State’s Agricultural Scheme for Young People.

While acknowledging the initiatives of the NYSC to encourage entrepreneurial spirit in corps members, Governor Fashola called for more training for corps members in order to achieve self-dependence.

He pointed out that this is the way to prepare the young people for the future “to begin to look after themselves, to begin to take responsibilities using their knowledge and skills to become self-dependent”.

He pledged the State Government’s support in this area saying, “We will be glad to support initiatives like this. Our State has quite a number of skill acquisition and skill training centres which can help them to acquire skills”, adding that such skills would enable them enlarge their scope beyond just routine office jobs.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Director General said he was in Lagos as part of his nationwide familiarization tour of the states aimed at meeting state governors and visiting both serving corps members and those in orientation camps across the country.

Describing Lagos State as “a State which the NYSC is proud to be associated with”, Brig. Gen. Tsiga said this is because the State took the greatest number of corps members in the whole country in one scheme year adding that, unlike what happens with some other states, Lagos State never rejected any corps member posted for primary assignment in the State.

He also expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Governor and the Government of Lagos State for assistance which the government continues to render to the Scheme, including the security of the corps members in the State, noting that there has been no case of missing corps members in the State.

“This is all because of the fact, as my State Coordinator briefed me, your interest in the youths of Nigeria; your interest in the scheme; your interest in the contributions you want these young Nigerians to give as future leaders of tomorrow and what you are giving them is assisting the scheme to grow”, the DG said, praying that God would continue to inspire the Governor and his administration to continue to assist the Scheme in the State.

Congratulating the Governor for his successes and achievements in the last 800 days in office, Brig. Gen. Tsiga requested for assistance to acquire land for a permanent orientation camp in the State, pointing out that as a result of lack of orientation camp in Lagos, corps members posted to Lagos are first sent to neighbouring states for orientation before returning to Lagos for their primary assignments.

Also Present at the occasion were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Mr. Kofo Abayomi, Special Adviser on Education, Mr. Elijah Adewale, Malam Abe Tanko, Director of Services and Mr. A.O. Obomeile, Director, Public Relations in the NYSC, among other top State Government and NYSC officials.