The director-general (DG) of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-General Olukunle Nafiu, has assured corps members across the country of their safety during their service year.

The D-G made the pledge during a visit to the NYSC orientation camp Issele-Uku, in Delta on Friday.

According to him, NYSC is always conscious of the safety of lives of its corps members across the country and it is our policy that we do not deploy the corps members to crisis prone areas.

“We do our background checks with collaborative security agencies; the Police, the NSCDC, DSS, the Military and others including the communities and their leadership.

“We engage with the key leaders within the communities so as to be assured of the safety of these Corps members.

“We get periodic updates from the security on the safety of lives and property in areas where these Corps members are deployed. And from time to time we review our deployment.

“Once we sense any danger, we are warned and we quickly pull out our Corps members and so there is element of stability anywhere you see our Corps members.”

The D-G, while Interacting with the corps members, urged them to diversify in handiwork, especially in the training being given to them in the camp to avoid being in the labour market after their service year.

“I do not want you to join that population in the unemployment rate, try to be diligent and focus by engaging in camp training seriously.

“As we are training you, we have partners that are willing to empower you by providing you with starter kits, grants and all what not.

“And help yourself save from your allowances during your service year for investment. You can save from your N77,000 monthly allowance.

“You can save 30 per cent of your monthly allowance and use 70 per cent. Some former Corps members while receiving N33,000 allowance, still saved money out of it. So you can always save, it is achievable,” he said.

He urged corps members to know that they are the future of this country because they are the leaders of tomorrow.

NYSC is a national and mandatory scheme you all must go through as Nigeria young graduates from the universities, polytechnics and monotechnics.

“The NYSC is to build bridges, cultural affiliation and that is why you have been introduced to cultural awareness lectures.

“Nigeria we serve and we must serve this country as youths, as leaders of tomorrow, and stay in this state to build this nation, complete your service year, do not japa,” he said.

(NAN)