Some Batch B Stream 1 National Youth Service Corps Members who completed their one year compulsory youth service programme in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursdays (yesterday) are now stranded in the nation's capital following reported delay by the management of the scheme to pay them their allowance to enable them travel back to their various states of origin or resident.
On Friday, a female corps member who served in the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory Administration said she had to go back to her Place of Primary Assignment to beg for transportation to enable her travel home. According to her "you know NYSC has not paid us the last allawee, so I don't even have money to transport myself home. I have come to see if I can get money from some of my former 'Ogas'.
Even FCTA refused to pay us for some months. It is frustrating. Go to our various lodges as well as the NYSC Camp in Kubwa, Corpers are still there. Some of them, their rent expired last month yet there is no money to go back home. We hope they pay us soon" Meanwhile, the Management of NYSC has released a statement on its Facebook page blaming the delay in the payment of the allowance on technical problems with the payment platform. The statement added that a team of experts are working round the clock to address the issue.
The statement read "the Management of the National Youth Service Corps regrets the delay being experienced in the payment of personal allowance to Corps members.
"Management wishes to inform Corps members and the rest of the public that funds have since been released by the Federal Government, but the delay is as a result of technical problems with the payment platform. We wish to further inform that the service providers are working round the clock to restore connectivity so as to allow seamless crediting of Corps members’ accounts. We are confident that this will be achieved in a couple of days"
"Management appreciates the patience shown by Corps members in the face of this unforeseen challenge, and appeals for more understanding as we are working assiduously with the relevant agencies to address the problem. Payment of Corps members’ allowance is a top priority for the Federal Government and the NYSC Scheme, and wish to restate our commitment to the welfare of the youth on national service at all times".
Recall that similar fate was suffered previously by outgoing corps members, with some of them staging protest against the management of the scheme.
