The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has cautioned employers against subjecting corps members to poor treatment at their primary places of assignment.
State Coordinator, Alhaji Usman Yakubu-Yaro, made the call on Monday in Sokoto during the 2025 Corps Employers’ Workshop themed “The Role of Employers.”
Yakubu-Yaro emphasised the importance of employers ensuring maximum security and welfare for corps members to foster effective service delivery.
He expressed concern over rising cases of corps member rejection, instances where employers assist in orchestrating such rejections, underutilisation of corps members, and delays in issuing monthly clearance to those who deserve it.
He also cited other challenges such as late submission of requests for corps members, absenteeism, poor treatment in workplaces, lack of support for Community Development Service (CDS) projects, and the absence of accommodation.
He described the workshop as a platform for exchanging ideas to enhance the NYSC’s effectiveness.
Yakubu-Yaro reaffirmed NYSC’s commitment to achieving its objectives, describing the scheme as a powerful tool for promoting national unity and socio-economic development.
“Since the inception of the scheme, the NYSC Management/Corps Employers’ Forum has enabled both parties, who are critical managers of corps members, to enhance the corps members’ capacity for effective engagement,” he said.
He called on stakeholders to view corps members as agents of change and contributors to national progress.
In her remarks, Chairperson of the NYSC Governing Board and Permanent Secretary of the Sokoto Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Hajia Hadiza Galadima, reiterated the state government’s commitment to the safety and welfare of corps members.
Galadima urged employers to meet their responsibilities to both the corps members and the NYSC.
Dr Okoro Robertson of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, who served as a resource person, described corps employers as essential in shaping corps members’ productivity.
Robertson advised against arbitrary redeployment or posting of corps members without valid reasons, noting such actions undermine the scheme’s goal of national integration.
He encouraged NYSC to post corps members where they will be welcomed, properly supported, and closely monitored to ensure good performance.
The event featured open discussions among participating employers and stakeholders, who shared feedback on the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities within the scheme to help improve its operations.
(NAN)