In a rather comical twist of events, picture this: folks enduring a longer service year without timely allowances! The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has, with a dash of irony, decided to extend the service year for nine corps members in Gombe and Sokoto States. And here’s the kicker – no less than three of their comrades made a hasty escape, with one even passing away, while six others were handed extra time in Gombe State.
This peculiar news was unveiled during a relatively low-key graduation ceremony for 344 of the 2022 Batch C Stream I Corps members at the Federal Secretariat. State Coordinator Dawut Jidda revealed that the initial count was supposed to be 355, but 10 individuals mysteriously vanished for various reasons. Jidda made it clear that those facing the “joy” of an extended service will be given a second chance, or rather, they’ll be “remobilized” based on their wrongdoings, all in accordance with NYSC’s official rulebook.
Meanwhile, in Sokoto, a trio of wayward Corps members from the 2022 Batch C Stream 1 will be hitting the rewind button on their entire service year. The reason? Alleged misconduct and disappearing acts. NYSC State Coordinator Alhaji Usman Yakubu Yaro laid it all out during the graduation ceremony and emphasized that NYSC is all about balance. They reward the good apples and discipline the not-so-great ones. So, be warned, truancy isn’t on their good side!
Usman did offer a silver lining, though. Among the 527 corps members who successfully crossed the finish line, a stand-out male and female have secured themselves a spot on the list for the coveted Sultan Meritorious Award due to their remarkable contributions during their service year. And in a surprising twist, the NYSC made sure to dispatch a platoon of medical personnel to rural areas where their services are most urgently needed.
So, to all you youth coppers out there, take heed: diligence is the key to avoiding any unwanted service year extensions!
