By our Reporter
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has attributed the rejection of some Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) from its ongoing 2024 Batch “B” Stream 2 Orientation Course to their late arrival at the designated camps.
It was reported that thousands of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) corps members were stranded after they were rejected at the orientation camps across Nigeria.
It was learnt that the affected corps members were prevented from registering for the one-year compulsory service.
The affected graduates are those mobilised for the 2024 batch B stream but later shifted to batch C.One of the affected persons who spoke on Monday had said that about 40 graduates were affected at the Lagos orientation camp.
She had said: “Please I was trying to contact you for a human right related issue. It concerns NYSC. A lot of intending corpers are stranded in their states of posting with no money to go back home and nothing from NYSC. We received our call up letter as late as Thursday, Friday, Saturday and some even Sunday.
“I got my call up letter on Thursday got to camp on Saturday just to be sent back home after spending a lot of money on transportation. We were over 40 in the Lagos camp. And we are just waiting around to see if there’s a way.”
Reacting in a press statmeent issued by Caroline Embu, the NYSC Acting Director of Information and Public Relations on Tuesday, the agency said the protesting graduates arrived late to their camps.
The statement read, “The attention of NYSC management has been drawn to reports of agitations by some Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) who arrived late to their respective Orientation Camps for the ongoing 2024 Batch “B” Stream 2 Orientation Course, and were consequently not registered.
“The Scheme’s policy on mobilization and orientation programmes is clearly spelt out in the enabling Act and call-up letters issued to the PCMs.
“For avoidance of doubt the first paragraph of the call -up letter for this Batch of Corps members stated that registration will close by 12 midnight of Thursday 29th August, 2024, while the Swearing -in ceremony for those who successfully completed the registration process would take place simultaneously nationwide on Friday 30th August, 2024.
“As an organisation that prides itself as one with a human face, the above notwithstanding, when the NYSC management got reports of late arrival of some PCMS in some states, the Director-General directed that the deadline for closure of the registration Portal be extended to 12 midnight of Friday 30th August, 2024.
“Surprisingly, even after this grace period, videos of complaints by some more Prospective Corps members have again surfaced on social media agitating for further extension.
“In response to this, the Director-General promptly visited some camps to assess the situation. He sympathised with the affected Prospective Corps Members but reiterated that adherence to the rules of engagement in accordance with the NYSC Bye-laws, (in which discipline, including adherence to the stipulated dates of resumption to the orientation camp), was key. He, however, directed that the affected Prospective Corps Members be availed accommodation and feeding before they left the camps.
“He also assured those who made efforts but could not meet up with the registration schedule for this batch, would be given some considerations during the 2024 Batch “C” mobilisation.
“While management sympathises with the affected Prospective Corps Members, Nigerians should be reminded that the NYSC is a scheme whose operations are based on the provisions of the enabling Act and Bye-laws.”