Sokoto Increases Corp Members’ Allowance by 100 %

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

The Governor of Sokoto State, Mr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, has approved a 100 per cent increment in the allowance of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed to Sokoto State from N5,000 to N10,000 for their mandatory one-year service.

Aliyu made the disclosure yesterday at the joint orientation exercise for both Sokoto and Zamfara States at NYSC’s temporary orientation camp in Farfaru, Sokoto, during the swearing in of Batch ‘A’ stream 1 corps members posted to the states.

The governor said that he made the approval considering the current economic realities and the overall importance of the NYSC’s scheme to national and state development.

He also announced a donation of N10,000 to each corps member posted to Sokoto and Zamfara States that is currently undergoing orientation exercise as a welcome gifts.

He charged the corps members to be of good behaviour and encouraged them to embrace the spirit of “One Nigeria” and treat all citizens as fellow Nigerians, transcending ethnic and religious boundaries.

He assured them that his administration would continue to support the scheme to achieve its set aims.

According to him, the state government would not joke with their security and welfare because conducive environment is essential for good service.

On his part, the Chairperson, NYSC Governing Board and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths, Sport and Social Development, Mr. Muhammad Bello, urged the corps members to be disciplined, stressing that if they would win an award it would start right from the camp.

Bello explained that camp activities are regimental, hence the need to imbibe the discipline to cope with its daily activities.

He said: “The local, state and national award is given to an outstanding corps member based on his or her performance during the service period and is based on merit.”

 He thanked the governor for the prompt payment of state allowance to the corps members.

Earlier in his welcome address, the State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr. Usman Yakubu Yaro, explained that corps members deployed to the state had been registered and gradually adjusting to the demands of the orientation exercise.

Yaro commended the governor for his unflinching support to the scheme.

He also thanked the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111, for his royal blessing.

He appreciated the Nigerian Army, police, civil defense and other paramilitaries and stakeholders for their roles in the camp.

The highlight of the event was the administration of national and NYSC’s oaths on the corps members by the State Chief Judge, Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Sifawa, who was represented by Justice Ibrahim Tambuwal.