NYSC Lagos forms Camp Committee To Boost Corps Involvement 

The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Lagos Orientation Camp in Iyana-Ipaja has initiated the formation of Camp Committee to encourage greater participation from Corps Members in camp administration.

The NYSC scheme in Lagos stated this on Thursday, saying prospective Corps Members have eagerly volunteered for various roles, aligning with their preferences, expertise, and strengths.

Key Committees established include the Evaluation Committee for statistical assessments of camp activities, the Sanitation Committee, the Utility and Maintenance Committee, the Sports and Games Committee, the Socials and Reception Committee, and the SAED, Lecture, and Programmes Committee.

In addition to the Camp Committee , Corps Members have been invited to volunteer for roles such as the Red Cross, Orientation Broadcasting Service, Safety Protocol Adherence, the Band, Platoon leaders, Room leaders, and Kitchen duties.

ABOUT NYSC

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a program set up by the Nigerian government during the military regime to involve Nigerian graduates in nation-building and the development of the country.

There is no military conscription in Nigeria, but since 1973, graduates of universities and polytechnics have been required to take part in the National Youth Service Corps program for one mandatory year. This is known as national service year. Ahmadu Ali served as the first Director-General of the NYSC until 1975. The incumbent Director-General is Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed.

Major General Suleiman Kazaure was appointed director general of the NYSC on 18 April 2016 and served as the 17th DG of the scheme until his redeployment to the Nigerian Army Resource Centre on 26 April 2019.

NYSC was created on the 22 of May 1973 during the general Yakubu Gowon regime as an avenue for the reconciliation, reconstruction, and rebuilding of the nation after the civil war. It was established based on decree No. 24, which stated that the scheme was created “with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity“

Orientation Camp

Nigerian youths who are eligible for service are expected to register on the NYSC portal to be called up for service. After registration, eligible youths get their green card and call-up letter, which indicates their state of service. When called up, they are usually referred to as “PCMs” Prospective Corp Members.

The Prospective Corp members are then expected to proceed to their various state of posting for registration and the orientation camp exercise, which is the first phase of the service year.

The “orientation” period is approximately three weeks (21 days) and is spent in a regimented “camp” away from family and friends.

The camps are situated across the 36 states of the federation. During the first week of the orientation camp the PCMs are then sworn in and now referred to as Corps members. There is also a “passing out ceremony” at the end of the three weeks orientation camp, after which corp members are posted to their various Place of Primary Assignment (PPA).

 They are expected to work as full-time staff at their PPA with the exception of one working day devoted to the execution of a community development service popularly called CDS. After eleven months at their PPA, corp member are allowed 3 weeks of vacation before their final passing out ceremony, where they would be issued certificates of completion.

(WIKIPEDIA)