Osun State Governor Promises More Support for NYSC, Lauds Scheme for Uniting the Nation

The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has promised more support for the NYSC in the State. He lauded the Scheme for doing her best in uniting the nation through her programmes and the many inter-ethnic relationships that have come to be through her. 

He said the NYSC Scheme has indeed made it difficult for the nation to divide. 

Governor Adeleke said this during the courtesy visit of the NYSC Osun State Coordinator, Mr Agbor Ndoma Obim and his team to the Bola Ige House in Osogbo, on Tuesday. 

Adeleke also lauded the Scheme for keeping to the vision of the founding fathers and assured that the concerns raised by the Scheme would be addressed.

"We will take a look at your requests and we will surely do something about it, " he said.

He admitted that it is the role of the State Government to provide and maintain the Orientation Camps, therefore promising to look into the list of requests presented by the management on several operational and financial issues the Camp was facing. 

He assured the State Coordinator and the Camp’s management team of the revived support of Adeleke University, Ede. He stated that he had already approved the request for food augmentation and the State's support for the office complex is almost completed.

Adeleke further said that work would commence on the Camp stating that his administration would begin the renovation of the Camp by painting it to give it a face-lift. 

Meanwhile, the NYSC Osun State Coordinator, Mr Agbor Ndoma Obim in his address, appreciated Governor Adeleke for his unwavering support for the Scheme since he took over office as Governor of Osun State. He extended the appreciation of the Director General, Brig. Gen YD Ahmed and the NYSC management to the Governor for presiding over the Swearing-in Ceremony of the 2023 Batch A Stream 1 and 2 in the State. 

According to Agbor, Governor Adeleke was about the only Governor who presided over the Swearing-in Ceremony in person, looking at the reports from other States. He appreciated His Excellency saying that his coming uplifted his profile as a State Coordinator. 

Agbor thereafter intimated Governor Adeleke on the achievements of the Scheme in the State and also the challenges bedeviling the Scheme. Listing the challenges, Agbor began with a request for the Governor to prompt Adeleke University to revive its support programme for the Orientation Camp. He said the University used to help the Camp with event sponsorships and environment maintenance such as grass cutting. 

His next request was a befitting office complex for the Scheme in the State. He said that the NYSC requires a more robust building to carry out administrative duties, apprizing Mr Governor of the rent incurred by the Scheme for the current office complex. 

He then requested the Governor's help in renovating the Orientation Camp as most of the buildings within the Camp are in need of renovations. He also requested assistance with welfare and feeding augmentation during Orientation Course for the teeming number of Prospective Corps Members deployed to the State. 

Another request was the prompt payment of the state subvention. He said the prompt and regular payment of the subvention as stipulated in the NYSC Act will aid the administrative team in running the Scheme's programmes in the State. The Coordinator also pleaded for an upward review of the allowance of Corps Members working in the State ministries and establishments as the economic situation of the country demands. 

Agbor highlighted a special aspect of the NYSC Scheme that recognizes Corps Members who have made outstanding contributions to their host communities and appealed for the resuscitation of the State Honors Award as it has not been active and without the award system there is no way for outstanding Corps Members to be nominated for the Presidential Award. 

In the area of transport, the State Coordinator solicited for a bus to enable the State administrative team commute for official engagements such as cultural competitions, of which the Osun State team emerged first place recently. He stated that the current bus the team uses is old and needs a replacement. 

The last item on the state coordinators list was support for Corps Members Community Development Service (CDS) projects. Agbor believes with the State Government's support dialogues on these projects with local government chairmen and community leaders will be much easier. 

Adeleke in his response assured the Scheme of the State Government's support saying that he will equally encourage other stakeholders in the State to support the Scheme so that the NYSC culture and ideals can be sustained. 

Obim appreciated governor Adeleke for his unwavering support for the Scheme and presented some publications of the Scheme to the Governor.

The event also had in attendance the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi; the SSG, Alh. Teslim Igbalaye; Head of Service, Mr Samuel Ayanleye Aina; Special Assistants to the Governor, the Coordinating Director Ministry of Youths and Sports, Mrs Taiwo Oladunjoye, top Management staff of the Scheme and others.