One hundred and sixty-four ex-corps members, who served the nation between 2012 and 2014, will be presented with the President’s National Youth Service Corps honour awards at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, disclosed this at the weekend in Abuja,
The 164 winners, Olawumi explained, were selected from the 613 nominations received from across the country within the period under review.
The DG of NYSC also assured that a “water tight security strategy” has been put in place to guarantee the safety of all the Corp members who will be participating in the forthcoming general elections holding on March 28 and April 11, as well as those in their places of primary assignments.
Olawumi pointed out that a total of 134,000 of the 168,000 corps members, who applied for the Independent National Electoral Commission adhoc work during the general elections, have already been trained and are ready for the work.
The DG pointed out that 34,000 corps members, who have been trained ahead of the polls, have now completed their service and passed out before new dates of the elections, stressing that the Corp has no control over such persons..
Olawumi revealed that 2.8 million Nigerians have so far participated in the NYSC scheme since its inception over forty years ago.
He spoke while fielding questions from the media during a news briefing to usher in the President’s NYSC Honours Award ceremony for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 editions.
Speaking about awards, the NYSC Director-General said: “In order to ensure thoroughness and absolute fairness, the process of selecting this year’s award winners was conducted by some distinguished Nigerians with track records of honesty and integrity.
“The selection committee, after due consideration and assessment of report on each of the nominees for the combined 2012, 2013 and 2014 edition, selected 164 winners out of the 613 nominations received from across the nation.
“To date, a total of 994 ex-corps members have been conferred with the award and conferment of the award on the 164 winners selected for the forthcoming (today’s) edition will bring the number of winners to 1,158.”
Until recently, the President’s NYSC Honours award attracted a national certificate of honour signed by the President, a gold medal, automatic employment in the Federal Civil Service and Cash prize.
President Jonathan has however added another huge initiative, which is the scholarship grant to the award winners to pursue post-graduate studies up to Doctoral level in any University in the world.
On the issue of the corps members during the elections, the Director-General said the management of NYSC has put in place water tight security that will guarantee the safety and security of corps members who are recruited by INEC to serve during the elections and those who will not be serving in the elections.
He pointed out that the management of the NYSC is mindful of the ugly incidence that trailed the conduct of the 2011 Presidential elections which claimed the lives of some corps members.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the NYSC management in ensuring that no corps member loses his or her life in the forthcoming elections.
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