Gov. Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has renewed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare, lives and property of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed to the state.
El-Rufai reiterated the commitment on Thursday in Kaduna, in a speech at the opening of the orientation course for 2,200 2019 batch ‘B’ (stream l) NYSC member posted to the state for national service.
The speech was read on behalf of the governor by Mrs Kande Bage, the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology,
El-Rufai said that his administration would provide the right environment that would enable Nigerian youths to attain their full potentials in life.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the orientation camp will be open for 21 days’ orientation.
“Let me reassure you that security of lives and property of all citizens in our dear state remains the top priority of my administration,” the governor restated.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the new Coordinator of NYSC in the state, Mallam Isa Wana, reminded the corps members that the orientation course was regimented and as such, all the guidelines and bylaws governing the camp activities should be followed strictly.
The coordinator expressed appreciation to the state government for its commitment to ensuring the infrastructural development of the camp, but appealed to the governor to “do something” with regard to the state of work on the camp pavilion – a structure used for major events.
Wana said: “We appreciate the state government for the renewed efforts in addressing the infrastructural changes of the Black Gold camp, as exemplified by the ongoing construction work on the two-storey hostel block for male corps members.
“In the same vein, I wish to draw the attention of the government to the state of work on the camp pavilion. Reconstruction and expansion of the old pavilion suffered a setback after rain storm pulled down pillars erected to build the structure.
“I wish to appeal to the state government to put in place, remedial measures to complete the project in order to provide the camp a more conducive venue for our key functions and events.”
The governor recently embarked on the construction of a two-storey hostel block for male corps members at the camp, with a promise to add another block for female corps members.
According ton him, the move is to properly address the accommodation challenge at the camp.
NAN reports that the orientation course is the first of the four cardinal points of NYSC, which provides the platform to prepare prospective corps members for the task ahead during the one year mandatory service to the country.
Others are primary assignment, community development service and passing out parade. (NAN)
