Buhari okays employment of dead NYSC members’ siblings

By Jennifer Ugwueke

President Mu­hammadu Buhari has ap­proved the employment of 10 siblings of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who lost their lives during the 2011 post-election violence in Bauchi State.

Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Devel­opment, made this known on Tuesday during the inaugu­ration of NYSC Governing Board for a three-year ten­ure.

“As a sign of the Federal Government’s unflinching commitment to the NYSC, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the automatic employment of 10 direct siblings of the de­ceased NYSC members, who lost their lives during the 2011 post-election violence in Bauchi State,” he said.

“I consider it appropriate to use this forum to once again endorse the proposal made by stakeholders for the establishment of the Nation­al Youth Service Corps Trust Fund.

“I am confident that such an initiative will go a long way in strengthening the scheme and deepen its im­pact.

“Among other benefits, the fund will make the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entre­preneurship Development programme more function­al.

“It will, especially, serve as a sustainable source of providing start-up capital for the trained corps members to actualise their business plans and in turn employ more Nigerians”, the Min­ister said.

The Minister equally assured Nigerians that the NYSC will not be scrapped by the Federal Government.

“The NYSC scheme will be sustained. It has become an integral part of our na­tional development and uni­ty architecture.

“Nigerian youths con­tinue to benefit from this scheme,” he said.