Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, has stated that the r why members of the National Youth Service Corps must get better pay from the government.
The former INEC boss, who stated this in Abuja on Monday, during his speech at the 50th anniversary of the NYSC, themed “Five Decades of Fostering National University and Development,” described the scheme as one of the best programmes, introduced in Nigeria.
Describing the impact of the corps members in education, health and other sectors of the economy, Jega praised the graduates across the country, during their one-year mandatory service, noting their impact is being felt, most especially in the rural communities, across Nigeria.
Jega, who praised the NYSC members for their sacrifices as the ad-hoc staff during elections, recognized the risk they take, by putting their lives on the line, by supervising elections in a volatile country like Nigeria.
“I can testify to the contributions these young men and women made despite the risk that many of them faced in their duties,” he said.
The Professor, who stated that the scheme has achieved the objective, on which it was created, described the pay given to the corps member, as peanuts to their contributions and usefulness in the national growth and development of the country.
Appreciating the fact that the government is still able to maintain the scheme, despite the dwindling economic performance, appealed for the increment of their monthly allowances, noting that their contributions can not be over-emphasized.
