From Abdullahi Shugaba, in Katsina
The Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has expressed plans to improve facilities at the National Youth Service Corps camp, and called for deployment of corp Doctors, English, Mathematics Science teachers to address manpower gaps in rural communities across state.
Radda made the pledge on Wednesday when he received the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House Katsina.
The Governor described NYSC as an important platform for national integration, saying the deployment of young Nigerians outside their states of origin continues to promote understanding, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
“You find people from all walks of life and different states of the Federation converging here. Despite the challenges of adaptation, climate, cultural and religious differences, our people are hospitable and accommodate people irrespective of their religion or language,” he said.
He noted that Katsina State had continued to benefit from the contributions of Corps Members, especially in education and healthcare over the years.
He recalled his experience as Chairman of Charanci Local Government, he said Corps Members played important role in supporting am the mobile clinic which he initiated to provide healthcare services to communities.
He observed that their contributions remained significantly important in the education sector, particularly in rural schools.
“The state has recently recruited over 10,000 teachers, but they are still not adequate to address the need, the number of NYSC teachers that you find in most of the rural areas is quite amazing,” governor Radda said.
He assured the NYSC leadership of his administration’s continued support, saying the government would examine the renovation of hostel facilities at the orientation camp.
“I will definitely look at the renovation of the hostels, especially where these Corps Members are staying. I want to assure you that we will continue to partner together. I will continue to support the service as much as we can,” he said.
Governor Radda also directed the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development to make appropriate budgetary provisions to address some of the challenges raised by the NYSC leadership.
On allowances, the Governor said the government would review the existing support for Corps Members and identify areas requiring further intervention.
“I believe we give allowances to medical doctors and NYSC medical doctors. I am not sure about other sectors, but even in education, I think we used to support all of them. So, we will look at where the gap exists and try to see how we can address it,” he said.
Governor Radda urged the NYSC leadership to consider the peculiar manpower needs of Katsina when deploying Corps Members, noting that rural communities require more medical and other skilled professionals.
“I also want to appeal to you to look at the challenges we have in the state, especially the medical doctors. They are not supposed to go where they want; they should go where they are needed,” he said.
He also sought increased deployment of English, Mathematics and Science teachers to help address shortages in critical subjects across the state.
Earlier, Brigadier General Nafiu commended the Radda administration for providing a peaceful and conducive environment for Corps Members to serve across Katsina State.
“Security is very paramount to our operation in the National Youth Service Corps. Because Katsina is peaceful and conducive for orientation activities and deployment of Corps Members to the nooks and crannies of Katsina State, we are able to send them to this state and go to sleep without panic,” he said.
The NYSC Director-General said the scheme, which began with 2,364 graduates in 1973, now mobilises more than 400,000 graduates annually.
“Today, we mobilise over 400,000 graduates for national service, year in and year out. As a matter of fact, this year, the budget we have for mobilisation is 450,000 graduates,” he said.
He added that Nigerian universities, polytechnics and monotechnics were projected to produce about 650,000 graduates this year.
Brigadier General Nafiu also noted a significant change in the gender composition of graduates, saying female graduates have outnumbered their male counterparts since 2021. He attributed the development partly to educational policies and gender mainstreaming initiatives.
He stressed that the NYSC remained important to states facing shortages of doctors, nurses, teachers and other professionals, adding that the services of Corps Members contribute significantly to the economies of their host states.
“We are not parasitic. This is a symbiotic relationship. When Corps Members are made to feel at home in terms of security, facilities and other infrastructure, they tend to go to those particular areas more,” he said.
The Director-General praised the people of Katsina for their hospitality, noting that some Corps Members due to complete their service on September 3 were already concerned about leaving the state. “Katsina is home to everyone,” he said.
Brigadier General Nafiu appealed to the Governor to consider state allowances for Corps Members as an additional incentive. He also thanked the government for augmenting their feeding and urged the administration to sustain the support.
He disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved a review of the Federal Government’s feeding provision for Corps Members from next year.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Faruk Lawal; Principal Private Secretary, Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji; Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Engr. Surajo Yazeed Abukur; members of the Katsina State Executive Council; the NYSC State Coordinator; directors and other officials of the Corps, as well as senior government officials.
