By Leonard Okachie
The Abia Government has frowned at the allegation that some employers were exploiting the high unemployment rate to treat National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in the state as cheap labour.
The Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr Nwaobilor Ananaba, made the remark at the opening of this year’s NYSC/Corps Employers Stakeholders Workshop held on Thursday in Umuahia.
Ananaba, who is also the Chairman, NYSC State Governing Board, represented by a senior ministry official, Mr Eric Asomugha, urged corps employers to treat corps members with dignity and respect, “recognising them as their own children or siblings”.
He said: “It is disheartening that some employers, who were once treated with dignity and respect during their own national service, now subject corps members to ridicule, rejection and incredible conditions.
“The state government is committed to improving the living standards of corps members posted to the state, knowing that their wellbeing directly impacts their productivity.”
In a keynote speech, the Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, said that the workshop was always an occasion to engage employers in strategic communication, harmonisation of views and opportunity to explain policy directions.
Nafiu, represented by Mrs Calista Okafor, Corps Mobilisation and Certification, NYSC Area Office, urged corps employers to commit themselves to corps members’ welfare, including transportation, healthy work environment and others.
“I, therefore, enjoin you to see this workshop and your participation in it as a patriotic duty.
“I call on you to make individual and collective contributions in shaping the nation-building efforts of the corps members,” he said.
In a remark, the State Coordinator, NYSC, Mrs Gladys Adama, said that the workshop sought to arm the stakeholders and corps employers with the knowledge of enhancing the wellbeing of corps members to achieve optimal productivity.
Adama appreciated the State Government for providing the enabling environment for corps members to operate and thrive in the state.
The workshop featured the presentation of two papers with three groups to analyse and come up with resolutions that would be beneficial to all the parties in the partnership.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of this year’s workshop is “Strengthening NYSC/Corps Employers’ Partnership for Improved Mutual Benefit.” (NAN)
