The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on Friday, appealed to Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo to urgently address critical infrastructural and welfare challenges affecting corps members in the state.

Frances Ben-Ushie, coordinator of the NYSC in Edo, made the appeal in an address at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream II corps members at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Okada.

The coordinator listed inadequate hostel accommodation, poor learning facilities, high electricity tariffs, lack of operational vehicles, and non-payment of state allowances as key issues undermining the scheme’s effectiveness in Edo.

“We appeal to Your Excellency to kindly intervene in addressing these challenges.

“Resolving these issues will greatly enhance the effectiveness of the orientation programme and other NYSC activities in Edo State for greater impact,” she said.

The NYSC boss also raised concerns about encroachment on the camp premises due to the lack of proper demarcation, the absence of a multipurpose hall, and the heavy cost of running generators in the camp.

She warned that the continued lack of feeding augmentation and state allowance had triggered “massive relocation of corps members to other states.”

In his address, Mr Okpebholo reassured the 1,086 corps members, comprising 465 male and 621 female, of his administration’s commitment to their welfare and safety throughout their service year.

Okpebholo was represented by Aiyegbeni Balogun, permanent secretary in the ministry of youth and humanitarian affairs.

“From the moment you arrived in Edo State, we have worked diligently to ensure that the environment is conducive for you to thrive, contribute meaningfully, and enjoy a fulfilling service year,” he said.

The governor urged the corps members to take full advantage of opportunities in agriculture, education, technology, entrepreneurship, and tourism sectors, describing them as central to the state’s development agenda.

Mr Okpebholo further encouraged them to embrace the NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.

“Your contributions to Edo State, whether in Education, Healthcare, Agriculture, or Community Development, will have a lasting impact on our social and economic landscape,” he said.

(NAN)