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By Momoye Oghu
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Rivers State has urged Governor Nyesom Wike to reinstate payment of government allowances to corps members serving in the state stopped over six years ago.
The plea was made by the state coordinator of the NYSC on Monday in Port Harcourt during the foundation laying ceremony of a sick bay donated to the Government Technical College, Port Harcourt by Mrs Osephni Oghu, a youth corps member serving in the college.
Mr Andrew Ajayi, who represented the state coordinator, observed that reinstatement of the state allowances would spur more corps members in the state to put in their best. “So, it’s a deliberate appeal to the governor to please reinstate this allowance that has been withheld, because a labourer deserves his wages and encouragement,” he said, adding that, “unfortunately, the payment stopped around 2012 as far as I know, during the Rotimi Amaechi era as governor.
“When Governor Nyesom Wike came in after the 2015 general elections, when a Corps member was killed during the election at the Ahoada West axis, he came to the (NYSC) secretariat and said that, he learnt that payment for Corpers allowances had long been stopped, that he’s going to reinstate it and also made promises of increasing it.
“He promised that he’s going to make it N10,000 for those serving in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor LGAs and N15,000 for other LGAs. He started. One, two, three times, he paid and ever since that time, he stopped. And the Corps members have been lamenting.”
A representative of the state Secondary Schools Board, Mr Ikechi Worgu, commended the Corps member for her fine gesture, which he observed would be an indelible mark in society and called on the principal of the college to ensure the security of the project when completed.
The principal of the college, Mrs Roseline Adooh, in an address said, “several National Youth Service Corps members have come, served and ended their service years successfully. But this particular Corps member has distinguished herself from them all.”
The Youth Corps member, Mrs Osephni Oghu, who donated the project, told our correspondent that the sick bay, which is her personal contribution and Community Development Service (CDS) would serve as a first aid facility for both students and staff of the college.
